Fish farms must be relocated further offshore, PN deputy leader insists

PN deputy leader Mario de Marco has called for fish farms to be relocated further offshore, arguing that such action is necessary to mitigate against current visual and waste pollution problems.

In an opinion piece for the Times of Malta, de Marco argued that the rights of people not to live near the stench of people overrides any excuses that fish farm operators have aired against shifting their operations further offshore. He added that the fish farms should be relocated to zones that limit the environmental damage, particularly on the seabed. 

The former tourism minister recounted how fish farm relocation plans by the Fisheries Department under a PN administration had been met with strong resistance from operators and a number of Labour MPs, some of whom are now Cabinet ministers.

“It is now up to a Labour government, including the people and operators who have resisted change in the past, to do what is necessary. Their actions in the past were guided by political or commercial expediency. I hope any actions by the government now are dictated by a long-term vision and not short-term gains,” he wrote.

“We need to find a solution that serves the best interest of the country, the communities that live around the coast, the tourism industry that depends on the country having pristine coastal waters, the operators who invested in this sector and those families whose livelihood depends on it having a bright future.

“The public outcry is now too deafening, and it is impossible for the government to ignore the current state of affairs,” de Marco said. “One hopes, however, that the government acts sensibly rather than coming up with a populist, knee-jerk reaction that will, in the long-term, create more problems than it solves and lose out on the potential of an industry which, if properly regulated and controlled, still has what to offer to our economy.”

You have to give it to @TeamMDM ... Last PN envi minister who did nothing on fish farms lecturing govt on the issue. pic.twitter.com/TmvfMBLaIv

— Kurt Farrugia (@KurtFarrugia) September 3, 2016

Government spokesperson Kurt Farrugia rubbished de Marco's call, arguing in a tweet that he had done nothing to address the issue during his tenure as environment minister. 

Earlier this week, the Planning Authority issued emergency orders against four fish farm operators whose tuna farms are riddled with illegalities.

The operators have been given until Monday to present a plan of action detailing how they plan on removing the illegalities. Failure to abide by their own plan, the authorities will move in with an enforcement order and take direct action – which could include releasing the fish into the sea.

Two of the tuna fish farms in question are located in the north part of the island, close to Comino and is-Sikka l-Bajda, off St Paul’s Bay and another two are located off Marsaxlokk.

Next week, a revised legal notice will be published which will introduce harsher administrative fines intended for any planning illegalities related to the sea including illegalities in the aquaculture sector. Daily fines will go up to €2,000 up to a maximum of €200,000 in the aggregate.

The Malta Tourism Authority welcomed the PA's announcement, insisting that the fish farm industry should not be allowed to leave a negative impact on Malta's tourism product. 

"The success of ongoing efforts by the MTA and many others to promote Malta as a holiday destination depend to a large extent on the quality of the product that we offer our visitors," it said in a statement. "In this regard, the cleanliness of our beaches and bathing waters, for which we are collectively responsible, plays an important role and must be safeguarded by all."