On Saturday in Marsaxlokk, the Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs, George Pullicino distributed €70,000 in compensation to 30 fishermen, for the early closure of the swordfish season in 2009.

Last October, by directive of the ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas), the closed season for swordfish began two months early to protect the species during a highly vulnerable period. It was decided to compensate fishermen who are only equipped for the fishing of swordfish to adjust their equipement to enable them to catch other species in the forthcoming years, in case of a closed season period for swordfish occurs again.

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