Questions raised over ninth tuna net off St Paul’s islands

Front Harsien ODZ has called on authorities to investigate questions raised over a ninth tuna net added off St Paul’s islands.

"The tuna farm issue was already characterized by lack of good governance and poor enforcement, and the least that one expects is that tuna farm operators abide by their recent declaration to stop increasing tuna nets,” the group said.

"Front Ħarsien ODZ supports the Stop the Slime campaign and expects the authorities to practice good governance on this matter".

Stop the Slime has published photos showing a ninth net, but operator AJD Tuna said that the extra cage visible in photos was a "runner cage" used to pass fish into carry over cages "in an operation that was supervised by the Department of Fisheries". 

AJD Tuna said that was in the process of repairing rings damaged during storms that hit the area in October.

Activists have requested the Planning Authority, responsible from enforcement, to look into the matter.