Malta proposes lampuki season should start in July to combat illegal fishing
Pilot project suggested as agriculture minister seeks European safeguards for local farmers, fishers, herders
Malta has proposed to bring forward the official start of the traditional lampuki season to July as a means to combat illegal fishing.
In meeting of the council of ministers for agriculture and fishing in Brussels, agriculture minister Anton Refalo and parliamentary secretary Alicia Bugeja Said suggested the proposal could be introduced as a pilot project.
“The Commission must ensure that the voice of Maltese fishers is heard and that illegal practices are stopped,” she said, adding that evidence shows that lampuki are appearing earlier in the Mediterranean.
Presenting Malta’s position on the European Commission’s Common Agricultural Policy, Refalo welcomed efforts towards greater “simplification and flexibility” but expressed concern about certain points, requesting solutions which take into consideration Malta’s particular circumstances.
“European policy should reflect our country’s unique characteristics with more flexibility in the allocation of funds and adequate support for small farmers,” Refalo said.
He insisted that local farmers, herders and fishers play a fundamental role in keeping local production and marine resources alive.
Speaking about fisheries and aquaculture, Bugeja Said highlighted the need for EU funds to be directed towards attracting more young people into the fishing industry through investment, while also continuing to promote more sustainable practices.