At the request of the Maltese authorities among others, since a few years ago the number of vessels of the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) has increased and one of them is specifically requested to inspect areas known for illegal lampuki fishing during this period. This requested vessel already entered Malta last June and is currently inspecting near Sicily.

This was announced by the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights, which stated that efforts against illegal fishing does not start with each lampuki season, but has in fact been ongoing for the past few years.

The Ministry stated that “this work and the reputation of the Maltese Authorities with both the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) and the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) also led to the European Commissioner Costas Kadis visiting Malta last June, during the first months of his mandate as European Commissioner responsible for Fisheries.”

It added that, “this was in order to better understand the arguments being put forward by the Maltese authorities and to meet personally with Maltese fishermen to understand their difficulties.”

The Ministry stressed that Lampuki fishing is regulated by European regulation and follows the recommendations covering fishing in the Mediterranean issued by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM). “These regulations clearly state that the season opens on the 15th of August.”

It went on to say that while the Maltese Authorities are already working to convince European institutions to consider changing this date, even due to climatic reasons that are affecting the time in which the lampuki migrates, “it is certainly not a solution for the Maltese Government and Authorities to encourage the violation of current regulations.”

“This is because we believe that this should be done through the appropriate legislative processes in the European institutions,” stated the Ministry. “We believe that this is also the way for the Maltese authorities to remain consistent and credible in their arguments against illegal fishing and also in favour of the rule of law.”

In parallel, the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture is carrying out coordinated work with the Armed Forces of Malta and the EFCA. In fact, as soon as videos began to circulate on social media of fishermen in the Mediterranean catching lampuki on the 1st of August, the Department officially informed the EFCA.

The Ministry said that is why EFCA urgently convened the working group on lampuki nets on Thursday, the 7th of August. “During this meeting, Malta proposed that the Ocean Sentinel be deployed to carry out inspections in the Strait of Sicily, and by Thursday evening it was already monitoring the requested area. This is further clear evidence of how effective the Maltese authorities are being in the European institutions.”

All this is also being done in compliance with the regulation approved in the European Parliament led by MEP Thomas Bajada against illegal fishing by third countries, a regulation that not only aims to stop these practices but also to impose serious and effective penalties to deter those who break the law, said the Ministry.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Anton Refalo said that, “The Government is not only committed to defending Maltese and Gozitan fishermen, but also to looking towards the sustainability and future of fishing in our country.”

The Ministry pointed out that “it is a fact that last year fewer lampuki entered the fishery, a fact also linked to climate change and its effects on our sea. The heat in the Mediterranean led to sea temperatures rising earlier than usual, and this had a direct impact on the lampuki season.”

It added that, accordingly, the Department is already carrying out a scientific study on the impact of climate change on the lampuki fishery, so that the arguments presented before the European institutions are based on facts and science, not assumptions.

The Ministry also encouraged the cooperation of fishermen and related organisations so that in the event that they encounter illegal fishing and or are faced with abuses by foreign fishermen on their lines, they provide the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture with videos, positions (coordinates), boat numbers and other related information via the email infofisheries.mafa@gov.mt or on the Department’s social media page.

It said that “this is so that this evidence continues to strengthen Malta’s arguments in favour of investigations and enforcement against other fishermen in the Mediterranean at a European level and also in preparation for the annual GFCM meeting which will be held in early November.”

File photo

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