As the Palm tree has several uses other than landscaping and as it is a common tradition to use the fronds of Phoenix species in the fishing industry, the Plant Health Department has the following advice:

In the month of August, it is a common practice for fishermen to cut hundreds of palm fronds, which are used as sheltering grounds for the dolphin fish – "lampuki" – in the traditional "kannizzati" fishing method. This practice of palm frond removal should be immediately followed by preventive treatments (insecticide treatment and wood filling application) as the Red Palm Weevil is attracted to this fresh damage and uses these fresh cuts for depositing eggs.

The primary focus is on the Canary Palm (Phoenix canariensis) which is one of the most susceptible palm trees found locally. This is the largest among the palms, having long bright green fronds which have sharp thorns at the base.

Malta, along with other European countries, is being faced with a major pest problem; the Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) which is a palm tree borer capable of killing trees within a short period of time (months) and able to fly long distances. It is important that any palm fronds to be used for such purposes have to originate from red palm weevil-free trees to prevent the spreading of this pest.

The fronds have to be cut as short as possible so as to minimise infective areas which are generally concentrated at the base of the fronds. The base of the cut frond has to be sealed with an appropriate pruning sealant. The palm trees from where the fronds are cut have to be sprayed with an appropriate insecticide. This has to be repeated for three consecutive times in order to best protect the trees.

In order to control the spread of infection by the Red Palm Weevil, palm fronds to be used by fishermen should be collected from a common site where cutting of palm fronds is controlled. In Malta, palm fronds should only be collected from Environmental Landscapes Consortium Limited (ELC) premises mainly Wied Incita, while in Gozo, palm fronds should only be collected from the Afforestation Section at an approved site after interested persons present a receipt issued by the Fisheries Section in Gozo.

In order to manage the Red Palm Weevil infestation the Plant Health Department is asking for the cooperation of all the people involved in such activities. Stakeholders should abide by Legal Notice 42 of 2009, Plant Quarantine Act (CAP 433) Control of the Red Palm Weevil Regulations, 2009, and respective guidelines, as stipulated in regulation 8, and regulation 6(6) whereby pruning or any similar activity on susceptible plants, shall be carried out in collaboration with and under the supervision of the Department which shall give proper and adequate instructions for such pruning. Any such or similar activity cannot be carried out unless a written approval for such pruning or similar activity has been obtained from the Department, not less than fifteen days prior to the undertaking of the actual pruning or similar activity to be undertaken.

Such an infestation can only be controlled if all involved persons play their part.

For any further information one may contact the Plant Health Department within the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs on tel. no. 2339 7100.

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