“Data collated on the fishing industry in the Mediterranean is being used to the detriment of traditional Maltese fishermen when it comes to allocating fishing quotas on a Union and on a national basis in order to preserve fish stocks,” reiterated Maltese MEP Alfred Sant at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, when commenting on a statement released by the European Commission.
Dr Sant said that Gozitan and Maltese traditional fishermen whom he meets on a regular basis, share this opinion and continuously ask him to voice their concerns at the European Parliament on this issue.
“Local fishermen from Marsaxlokk, Mellieha and other areas in Malta and Gozo share these concerns every time I meet them and ask me to convey their message at the European Parliament.”
“I will remain loyal to Gozitan and Maltese traditional fishermen who earn their livelihood from fishing and will continue to represent their interests at the European Parliament. Local fishermen are suspicious about the use of fishing industry data in favour of large operators to their detriment,” remarked Dr Sant.
He added that “I told the European Parliament that EU Directives have curtailed the livelihood and the future of Gozitan and Maltese traditional fishermen whose catches were disproportionately restricted for tuna, shortly for swordfish and will soon be restricted for lampuki.”
“This is unfair and this is what prompted me to vote against a resolution on the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector at the European Parliament.”
“Many traditional fishermen operate on a family basis. Up to quite recently, they lacked the knowledge, resources or time to be able to understand how their industry, indeed their way of life, were changing. Larger scale operators transformed the structure of the fishing industry and knew how to lobby in defence of their market share,” said the Maltese MEP.