Fifth fish farm operator has not yet signed industry’s selfregulating agreement – sources
Sources in the fish farming industry have told The Malta Independent that Mare Blu Tuna Farm Ltd, a subsidiary of a Spanish company, has not yet signed the self-regulating agreement with the other fish farm operators, for cleaner seas around the island.
Fish farming industry sources said, however, that discussions regarding the possibility of signing the agreement are still underway.
The Maltese Federation for Aquacultural Products announced on 1 August that it had reached an agreement with four out of the five fish farm operators to regularise their procedures between August and the end of October so to have cleaner seas for all.
The federation said that it had reached this agreement after noting people’s complaints and the challenge that the government has to keep a general balance between the industry and the public.
The agreement includes several considerations that the operators must adopt and follow to ensure that the environment around them is treated well and with full respect.
Such measures include each operator having to place booms around each cage to stop any oils that emerge from the feed used for the fish spreading into the open water; that each operator has a boat dedicated to going round the cages and picking up any waste that has been generated; that the feed should be transported and processed in accordance with the best environmental practices and that there should be an independent person appointed by the federation to assess and report on the practices that the signatory operators are using.
Recent investigations by the environment ministry and the fisheries department revealed that fish farm operators were not observing permit conditions, after sea slime was once again seen in Maltese bays. The government statement said that where it had been established that operators had not taken steps to mitigate the release of oil and other related material, immediate measures had been taken. Since then, booms have been installed to help mitigate any slime seepage.
When contacted, the ministry did not go into detail as to individuals, as the ministry’s aim is to see the holistic aspect and ensure that all operators adhere to the regulations. Environment Minister Jose Herrera, however, told this newsroom that the operators had made certain commitments after he had held meetings with them and expressed his anger at the situation.