Brussels insists Malta breaking Med. fishing rules

Malta is breaching the EU's Mediterranean fishing rules, a European Commission official insists.

"Since the adoption of the Mediterranean Regulation in 2007, Malta has made all the necessary arrangements so as to fully comply with its provisions," Rural Affairs Ministry permanent secretary Chris Ciantar said last week.

However, the Commission insists Malta is in breach of the rules, which came into force this month after an adjustment period of three years.

"We can inform you that Malta is not complying with the Mediterranean Regulation. Malta, like several other member states, had not complied with the first deadlines for the submission (September, 30, 2007) of a national plan," the official stressed.

"The first submission occurred in late 2008 and a revised plan was presented in 2009. The latest version of the plan is still under scrutiny and the Commission and the Maltese authorities are in contact to discuss the missing elements."

A plan has been submitted but the Commission feels it is incomplete.

The management plans expected from Mediterranean member states should cover a series of large-scale fishing techniques. The goal of the regulations is to ensure industrial fishing is sustainable through restrictions such as minimum distances from the coast, the dimensions of nets and fishing gears and the minimum size of fish caught.

In a strongly-worded statement, EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki last week indicated that the Commission's patience was wearing thin.

According to the Commission, the state of several fish stocks in the Mediterranean is alarming, and fishermen are catching less every year. Scientific experts estimate that more than 54 per cent of the 46 fish stocks assessed were found to be overfished as they were being caught too young.

The Mediterranean Regulation applies to Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, Greece, Cyprus and Malta.

24th June 2010
The Times of Malta