Two out of four fish farm operators now ‘fully compliant’ – Planning Authority

The Planning Authority confirmed yesterday that two of four fish farm operators are now fully compliant with the unilateral declaration they made with the Authority on how and when, over the coming weeks, they were to remove their respective fish farms.

The two operators in question, Malta Fish Farming Ltd and Malta Mariculture Ltd removed two 20metre diameter cages and two 50metre diameter cages respectively.

The other two operators, Fish&Fish Ltd and AJD Tuna Ltd while not yet fully compliant, also removed one and two 50-metre diameter cages respectively. Fish&Fish Ltd also emptied two more 50-metre diameter cages but is waiting information from the Fisheries Department to provide the exact co-ordinates where to move the cages to.

Last month, the four fish farm operators had their 10 development permits unanimously revoked by the Planning Board given that their operation was in breach of planning conditions to the detriment of the environment and negatively impacting coastal bathing water.

The respective fish farm operators have up to 31 December 2016, to completely relocate their tuna structures and operations to the approved aquaculture zone in the south of Malta.

The Planning Authority said that over the coming days it will continue to monitor the removal of the fish farms according to the unilateral declaration the respective fish farm operators made with the Authority. The Authority reserved the right to proceed with direct action should it deem it necessary.