PD calls for fish farm relocation studies

● Comino fish farm to be moved to marine Natura 2000 site

Partit Demokratiku has joined a chorus of disapproval at the way a fish farm permit was recently approved to allow its relocation within a Natura 2000 site.

Last week, the Planning Authority announced that it had given permission for the temporary relocation of 6 tuna cages from the south Comino channel. The new site is approximately 5km offshore, outside Sikka lBajda. The permit is valid for two years. The PA said the permit is an interim solution until the Department of Fisheries sets up a second aquaculture zone in the north.

The announcement was met with some negative reactions, including from Birdlife Malta, which condemned the relocation of the fish farm to a marine Nature 2000 site. The e-NGO called on the authorities to carry out the necessary studies.

Reacting, the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) said the relocation was screened for both an Environment Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment. The site chosen for the temporary relocation was based on a selection exercise carried out by scientific experts, it said.

But yesterday, Partit Demokratiku asked whether the relevant studies have been carried out in order for such permit to be issued, even though it is temporary. It also asked whether a dangerous precedent of ‘issue the permit now, prepare the relevant studies later’ was being set.

“We urge the relevant authorities to continue monitoring the fish farms’ activity and to make sure that our marine environment remains protected through stringent laws rather than a laisse faire attitude and action taken only following a public outcry,” the party said in a statement.

“Malta depends heavily on its seas when promoting the country as a tourist product. It is imperative that we preserve the seas that surround our island and we find a balance which allows for both tourism and the fish industry to coexist without further negatively impacting our seas,” PD said.

Last September, the Planning Board unanimously revoked 10 fish farm development permits after it was found that they had been operating in breach of planning conditions.

Over the past two years there were many reported cases of sea slime around many of Malta’s popular beaches and a report commissioned by the government last year had found that, in many of the cases the sludge was coming from tuna pens. The action taken included the relocation of some fish farms and a review of feeding practices.

Earlier this week several pictures of sea foam were sent to this newsroom but the ERA said this could be the result of a natural phenomenon, and not fish farms. It confirmed that it has commissioned monitoring and investigations since a number of months.

“The occurrence of this lasting foam has been observed elsewhere in the Mediterranean and is linked to natural phenomena including sea conditions, coupled with bio-agents. ERA is in contact with other national authorities about this phenomenon. Investigations are still underway thus ERA is not in a position to comment any further until conclusive results that provide more information on this occurrence are available.”