An application has been filed to double the tuna fish farms from 12 to 24 – but this will require an environmental impact assessment.
Responding to a parliamentary question by MP Godfrey Farrugia, Sustainable Development Minister Jose Herrera confirmed that the Environment and Resource Authority had received the proposal in January.
However, it requires a full assessment of its environmental impact in accordance with regulations introduced in 2017.
“This process is still in its preliminary phases,” he said.
A number of fish farms had been moved to the Sikka il-Bajda area as a temporary measure for two years while operators await the setting up of a designated North-East Aquaculture Zone, complementing a similar site in the south which is already operating at full capacity.
Read: St Paul's Bay fish farm to move five kilometres from shore
Dr Herrera added that the ERA has drawn up the terms of reference for the study that this aquaculture zone will require.