Watch: Bathers in Sliema swim next to patches of slime

Bathers in Sliema were left swimming next to patches of slime on Tuesday, after slicks of oily residue, some of which smelled of decaying fish, were spotted in the water off Qui-Si-Sana.

Video footage captured by Times of Malta journalist Emma Borg shows swimmers in the water as patches of oily residue, which she said had an odour of decaying fish, float nearby.

Separate footage and photos taken by residents shared with Times of Malta also show the slicks of oil in the water.

Maltese Aquaculture Producers Federation CEO Charlon Gouder said the federation was “aware of it and we are taking care of it", adding crews were in Sliema clearing up the slime.

Gouder said “analysis” of similar patches collected in recent weeks  "shows it's not necessarily fish slime", however, adding that results of tests carried out would be published "towards the end of the summer".

The CEO – who has acted as a lobbyist for the fishing industry – said, "since the middle of last month, we've had four boats out cleaning up Malta's shores from sunrise to sunset... We believe it is our duty to clean our waters".

Describing the operation as an expensive "massive effort", Gouder said it was an "important mission; everyone has the right to enjoy the sea without nuisances". 

In a Facebook video, Sliema mayor John Pillow said the normally busy Qui-Si-Sana beach was “empty. Usually it’s full. And why is this? Because of slime”.

He noted that a sample of the slime he retrieved from the sea did not appear to have an odour of fish, however, instead describing it as smelling “like paint”.

Questions were sent to the Environment and Resources Authority.

The sightings follow similar appearances of slime in the water at St Paul’s Bay over the weekend, which provoked a reaction from Archbishop Charles Scicluna, who slammed corporate greed for creating the issue.

Writing on X on Saturday, Scicluna said: “The sea is horribly slimy this morning... due to a sticky, oily substance which seems to originate from fish farms. Another sad instance in our country of the many paying for the enrichment of the few”.

Sea slime was a regular occurrence on Maltese beaches for a number of years, until it reached dramatic levels amid rampant abuse, prompting authorities to issue fines and enforcement orders against leading operators.