It’s back... Fish slime reappears amid claims of new illegal tuna pen
Fish slime re-appeared in a number of bays around Malta over the weekend, amid allegations that a ninth tuna pen has appeared in the St Paul’s Bay area in spite of regulation stipulating that there should be eight, Environmental organization ‘Stop the Slime’ has told The Malta Independent.
Photographs provided by the same group show large amounts of white foam in the sea beneath the tower in St Paul’s Bay, and within Exiles Bay, Sliema.
A report commissioned by the Environment Ministry, which was published in August 2016, had confirmed that the infamous sea sludge mostly came from the fish farms.
This was also confirmed by Salvu Ellul, owner of MFF Ltd, who acknowledged that the pollution is caused by the fishing industry.
Environment Minister Dr Herrera had said, when the report was published, that some of the
our shores after years of influx of African nationals into Malta?
This question was also asked by Italian MEP Elisabetta Gardini, who asked the European Commission to explain the abnormally low numbers of migrants being disembarked in Malta after being rescued at sea, and questioned whether the Commission is aware of any informal agreement between the Maltese and Italian governments related to rescue operations in the Mediterranean.
Minister for Home Affairs Carmelo Abela had admitted that there was an “informal collaboration” between Malta and Italy whereby all migrants saved in the central Mediterranean would be disembarked in Italy. Later on during that same day he had backtracked, saying that what exists was very close collaboration where Malta uses all its AFM resources to save migrants from the sea.”
Questions were raised because of the extremely low number of migrants entering Malta’s shores not being consistent with the sheer volume of those fleeing via North Africa this year, in particular Syrians crossing over into Africa and then making the journey to Europe in hope of a better life.
Minister Alfano has told Italian media that Italy has guaranteed to offer solidarity and security. “We are world champions with regards to solidarity. We have saved hundreds of thousands of life and so far, there were no serious [terrorist] attempts”.
In launching the investigation, the court in Sicily said that “we want to understand what’s behind these humanitarian organisations which flourished during recent years, how they are being financed and what their game is.”