local news

Widespread call for investigation into PA board's tuna penning approval

By David Lindsay

Following the Planning Authority's controversial decision to allow a St Paul's Bay tuna pen - owned by Azzopardi Fisheries - to double its cages from four to eight, a group of NGOs and academics have called on the prime minister himself to set up a team to investigate the decision.

The group, comprised of BICREF (The Biological Conservation Research Foundation), Dr Adriana Vella, ECO (Fondazzjoni Ekologica Maltija), Friends of the Earth Malta and Din L-Art Helwa, also deplored the fact that there has not yet been any official reaction from the government - inaction the group defines as "scandalous."

The group, contending that the decision should, by all rights, be reversed as a result of the PA having ignored the law, is adamant that with decisions like this the law has become a dead letter and that the PA board members are ruling in a dictator-like fashion.

It suggests the following action, "The government should take into consideration that fact that the credibility of the PA has been completely undermined and take the necessary action. It must ensure that the members to be appointed to the PA board next month for a new three-year term are, in accordance with the law, persons of integrity who will uphold the dictates of the planning laws. They should include environmentalists and persons versed in the said laws.

"The decision taken by the PA will prove to have long term detrimental economic impacts on the economy as the type of ‘farming’ that is being conducted by Azzopardi is unsustainable as it involved catching thousands of tuna from the wild. This will deplete the tuna fish stock, which will mean that the tuna penning business will only have a short life span."

Meanwhile, Alternattiva Demokratika yesterday called on both Fisheries Minister Ninu Zammit and MLP spokesperson Noel Farrugia to take a stand on the 'Tuna Penning Scandal'.

AD Chairman Harry Vassallo said: "These politicians have a direct interest on the issue. The public deserves to know the policy of the ministry regarding tuna penning. If the minister remains silent, one can conclude that the government is hiding behind the façade of the Planning Authority Board's decisions. The Ministry has to choose between the long-term interests of the Maltese fishing community and the short-term interests of businesses proposing unsustainable developments.

"The public also deserves to know whether the Labour Party agrees with the PA Board decision or not. It is surprising that the Labour Party has kept silent on this issue. If Noel Farrugia continues to keep silent on this issue, one can conclude that the Malta Labour Party is being complacent towards businesses proposing unsustainable development. The fact that Planning Authority Board Member and Labour MP Joe Mizzi first voted against and later voted in favour of the project speaks volumes about the MLP's attitude towards unsustainable development."