The slow-moving but highly prized dusky grouper fish will soon come under the protection of the planning authority.

Action had to be taken because the protected species was slowly disappearing from Maltese waters as it was targeted by harpooners and fishermen, said senior environment protection officer Carmen Mifsud.

The fish, always in demand at restaurants, could easily grow to 100 kilograms in weight but it rarely does because, being quite sedentary, it is an easy target. The population is fast decreasing because the larger males are being constantly caught.

A draft action plan, open for consultation until June 6, proposes to analyse the grouper population with a view to boost their numbers, assessing the impacts and threats.

It will protect their habitats and establish monitoring programmes and raise awareness about the species, ċerna in Maltese. It also looks into measures for sustainable exploitation. Grouper fish are classed as endangered on the international list of threatened species. Locally, its protection status is listed as “has to be regulated”.

Ms Mifsud admitted that not much information about their numbers was available, especially in Maltese waters, but added that the little data at hand indicated that their numbers had dropped.

Figures for 2006 show 18 tonnes of grouper were caught compared to 559 tonnes of dolphin fish, or lampuki. However, Fisheries Department data is mainly based on fish market sales and does not distinguish between different types of groupers, those caught for personal consumption and those sold on the market.

Ms Mifsud said many countries in the Mediterranean that introduced a moratorium on grouper fishing noted an increase in their population. Spread over three years, the action plan will cost an estimated €70,000 to implement.

The draft plan can be found on www.mepa.org.mt and feedback can be sent to: bap.groupers@mepa.org.mt.