PD lashes out over sea slime

Partit Demokratiku has lashed out over sea slime problems through a statement yesterday.

“This is peak season for tuna fattening before slaughtering begins in October, and our coastal waters from Armier to Sliema are again polluted with slime. This is not naturally occurring foam, but slime. This time round, Comino has also been adversely hit.

“A fish farm in the area has just doubled the number of pens this year (PA/ 02175/18) despite numerous protests and the claim of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, which falls under the Ministry for the Environment, that principles of best management practices will be applied to safeguard and sustain our marine environment, and that it will implement measures so that our blue flag beaches and coastal waters do not get polluted by slime. Slime is a direct danger to the environment,” said PD deputy leader Timothy Alden.

“We have a government that blunders on irrespective of the framework of the Aquaculture Strategy for the Maltese Islands, and a PN Opposition who remains officially silent on tuna farming. They have both ignored a petition presented in Parliament, spoken in favour, or remained silent when the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Development Planning discussed the issue, and did not object to a PA application for the enlargement of this tuna-fish farm. Why?” asked PD MP Marlene Farrugia. “This is a multimillion-euro industry that gives little in return to Malta’s coffers and has shamed us by misconduct, illegalities and tuna smuggling,” she added.

“The Partit Demokratiku is in favour of the aquaculture industry, but the price being paid for this unsustainable growth to our economy comes at a great cost to our natural capital.”