MRU flags widespread illegal bluefin tuna fishing during the closed season

The Malta Ranger Unit (MRU) has flagged what it describes as widespread illegal bluefin tuna fishing during the closed season.

The NGO said its rangers documented several illegalities near fish farms in Maltese waters and have passed their concerns to the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

The MRU said enforcing such offences is particularly difficult due to the small-time window between when a tuna is caught and when it is processed and sold.

The organisation stated notifying the authorities had failed to result in enforcement action in the majority of cases.

According to the group, tuna fishing had continued for weeks after the end of the permitted season, with illegal landings taking place regularly and in broad daylight.

It described the activity as a commercial operation rather than isolated cases of individuals catching tuna for personal consumption.

The group alleged that people involved were able to continue operating despite being known to those in the sector and that illegally caught tuna was being sold.

A single bluefin tuna could fetch hundreds of euros depending on their size, making the fish very attractive for illegal fishers.

Following its monitoring, the MRU hoped that the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture’s feedback would lead to more effective enforcement.

It also said that the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), the international body responsible for managing tuna, had been informed of its concerns.