In a statement today the Parliamentary Secretariat for Agriculture and Fisheries has said that the Government is "totally against the introduction of the quota for swordfish and so is putting forward new proposals."

Referring to proposals for the introduction of a quota on catching swordfish, the Secretariat stated that, while it is fully committed to contributing to the recovery of swordfish stock, it is totally against the introduction of a quota.

It added that it is proposing that between 1 September and 31 March, no fishing line in the Mediterranean should be equipped with hooks less than 7 cm. This does not apply to bottom lines, it said.

The Secretariat said that it is also willing to extend the current closed season from three months to six months. Another proposal of the Government is to create Fisheries Restricted Areas where it is confirmed that there are swordfish spawning grounds..

"Although in recent years driftnets were banned, they are still used by some countries which are damaging stocks of this fish," the Secretariat said. "It is therefore not acceptable that countries that do not implement this regulation, and continue fishing with these nets, are being rewarded with a large quota, at the expense of small countries like Malta that have abided by the regulations."

"Maltese boats licensed to fish for swordfish are all less than 24 metres in length and their catch with the use of hooks, is insignificant compared to that of other Mediterranean countries."

The Secretariat said that "the Maltese fleet cannot be compared to that of an industrial one, and it is now paying for the illegal fishing carried out in the past by other fleets."

"Accordingly, Malta seeks exemption from the new measures for countries that have never stated catching swordfish with driftnets. The exemption should also be extended to traditional longliners."

These proposals will be discussed at the Council meeting of the European Union today.

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