The Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate change-DFA said in a statement today that all the fishing activities must be in line with the existing and present regulations falling under the national legislation Chapter 425.

The regulations which pertain to the deployment of trammel nets incorporate the restriction of its use in all bays and creeks, the limit of the area within which the use of the net is lawful will be outwards of a line drawn between two stone pillars placed on opposite sides of such bays and creeks from February the 15th to July the 15th.

MSDEC-DFA said that “in actual fact, the marine area of Dwejra does not have any stone pillars.”

MSDEC-DFA is aware that the proposed Marine Protected Area of Dwejra was included in the Action Plan of the Qawra/Dwejra Heritage Park. The legal framework of the area falls under the Legal Notice 311 of 2006 and does not incorporate trammel net fishing restrictions.

“Whilst Dwejra was legally declared an MPA, there has been no establishment of laws or regulations that pertain to the management of fishing activities in the area to date.

“MSDEC-DFA has been liaising with the competent authority for marine protection (MEPA), to devise the essential foundations and start working on this issue to ensure a holistic approach that takes into account the needs of both the diving and fishing sectors.”

“Furthermore,” the MSDEC-DFA said, “the DFA (at the time FCD) were contacted in November 2011 to provide the necessary input on a new Dwejra Marine Protected Area work plan. In fact MSDEC-DFA has already conducted a strategy to collect the necessary information on the fishing activities in Dwejra.”

MSDEC-DFA said that it believes that the development of a zoning scheme, based on a win-win strategy, will fulfil the needs of all stakeholders involved and will thus ensure compliance among users.

“Generally, the MSDEC-DFA is the competent authority that ensures that the fisheries legislation (Chapter 425 and its subsidiary legislation) is being observed through the necessary agreements with the national enforcing entities including ALE and AFM.

“Nevertheless, the Secretariat believes that the citizen should be an active vigilant participant and assist in the reporting of infringements.”

“In this regard, members of the public are kindly requested to send any reports directly to the MSDEC-DFA by providing the information on the illegality, the fishing vessel registration number as well as any relevant evidence photos to facilitate the legal procedure without any partiality, should the need be.

“Please be informed that the Department assures total confidentiality of the reporting individual and thus contends that such assistance is deemed necessary and is appreciated,” the Secretariat said.

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Department may be contacted on infofisheries@msdec.com.mt or 2292 1111 on a 24/7 basis.

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