All fish used during the Festa tat-Tonn last Saturday was legally caught according to authorised quotas, the Rural Affairs Ministry said.

In a statement replying to claims by fish4tomorrow that tuna sold and consumed during the festival was either illegally fished out of season or originated from the tuna ranches, the ministry said that that tuna catch quotas were this year distributed in agreement with fishermen and were given to the traditional fishermen.

Malta always ensured that regulations were safeguarded and that all activities were in line with procedures established by the European Union, as well as by international organisations.

The Maltese Federation of Aquaculture, which organised the festival, said that those who believed that tuna fishing and the acquaculture process were unsustainable were not following the latest developments in the international field or were content to just repeat slogans without seeking the truth.

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