Malta Bluefin Fishermen Refuse To Take Catch Observers On Boardff

Despite a high profile press conference on Friday, hosted by the Rural Affairs and Resources Ministry and the Armed Forces of Malta announcing a new Blue-fin Tuna Joint Deployment Plan, Malta’s fishermen are clearly not on board with new rules providing for tuna catch observers being stationed aboard fishing vessels this summer.

No deal has been struck over the arrangement despite soundings from the government to the contrary, fishermen’s representatives inform The Malta Independent on Sunday.

Such is the level of consternation among fishermen over the European Union requirement to have observers stationed aboard their vessels that Malta’s fishermen had planned to stage a protest on Thursday. The Malta Freeport was to have been blockaded, preventing cargo vessels from entering or leaving the port.

The immediate threat of such a protest appears to have been avoided on Wednesday following a meeting between ministry and fishermen representatives, but fishermen’s concerns appear far from being allayed.

Speaking on Friday, Minister Pullicino said Maltese fishermen said Maltese fishermen had expressed their commitment to the new rules and that talks were continuing on what he described as legal and technical points.

The matter, however, is still far from being resolved according to fishermen.

Following Wednesday’s meeting, the National Fishing Cooperative is seeking legal advice on the matter and the government is said to be doing likewise.

Lawyers representing both sides are said to be planning to meet in the coming days to thrash out the issue, while further discussions between the parties are expected to continue next week.

The matter needs to be urgently concluded given the fact that the blue-fin tuna season starts Thursday, 1 May, and wraps up on 30 June.

The European Commission has warned blue fin tuna catching member states and their fishermen they were obliged to follow all rules related to its in the 15-year Mediterranean recovery plan for blue-fin tuna, short of which member states would face legal proceedings.

Speaking to The Malta Independent on Sunday, National Fishing Cooperative secretary Paul Piscopo outlined fishermen’s two main concerns related to taking observers out to sea on tuna fishing expeditions.

First is the question of whether such observers would be treated as crew or as passengers. Secondly, and more importantly, is the question of responsibility and liability should an observer be injured on the vessel, which can be a dangerous place with slippery decks and a range of other potential dangers.

The government, Mr Piscopo says, asserts observers are insured through social security, but fishermen remain to be 100 per cent convinced. Another smaller issue raised by fishermen is who party would be responsible for the provision of food and lifejackets for observers - an extra expense fishermen are unwilling to incur.

On the whole, fishermen recognise that the measure will have to be introduced come what may, given the fact that it is an EU regulation. What they are calling into question are the details of its implementation.

Mr Piscopo holds faith in the capabilities of this year’s selected observers, all of who are fishermen and members of the Cooperative, but are unsure about next year’s observers.

This year’s seven Maltese observers were chosen after a call for applications published in the Government Gazette.

Observers will be looking for an illegal practices and noting the size of the tuna caught, Observers will also be stationed at tuna farms and even at locations where tuna are slaughtered.

In Malta there are 91 licensed blue-fin tuna fishing vessels, some 47 of which are over 15 metres in length, necessitating the presence of an observer aboard. The vessels carrying observers were chosen by lot, and observers are to remain on board the same vessels for the season’s duration.

The ‘Blue-fin Tuna Joint Deployment Plan’ is the end result of work by the International Commission for the Conservation of Tuna (ICCAT), which Malta as an EU member state has a duty to implement.

Over and above the presence of observers on board fishing vessels, more than 50 vessels and 16 airplanes from a number of EU states will be involved in the joint plan for the conservation of blue-fin tuna

The AFM itself will carry out 10 sea patrols and two air patrols a week over two weeks of the season.

France, Italy and Spain have already shown their commitment to the plan and have provided vessels to provide close surveillance to ensure that no illegal fishing takes place.

A total of 13 soldiers from the Maritime Squadron were also appropriately trained and are cooperating with the Fishing Department to ensure illegal fishing does not take place.

Despite a high profile press conference on Friday, hosted by the Rural Affairs and Resources Ministry and the Armed Forces of Malta announcing a new Blue-fin Tuna Joint Deployment Plan, Malta’s fishermen are clearly not on board with new rules providing for tuna catch observers being stationed aboard fishing vessels this summer.

No deal has been struck over the arrangement despite soundings from the government to the contrary, fishermen’s representatives inform The Malta Independent on Sunday.

Such is the level of consternation among fishermen over the European Union requirement to have observers stationed aboard their vessels that Malta’s fishermen had planned to stage a protest on Thursday. The Malta Freeport was to have been blockaded, preventing cargo vessels from entering or leaving the port.

The immediate threat of such a protest appears to have been avoided on Wednesday following a meeting between ministry and fishermen representatives, but fishermen’s concerns appear far from being allayed.

Speaking on Friday, Minister Pullicino said Maltese fishermen said Maltese fishermen had expressed their commitment to the new rules and that talks were continuing on what he described as legal and technical points.

The matter, however, is still far from being resolved according to fishermen.

Following Wednesday’s meeting, the National Fishing Cooperative is seeking legal advice on the matter and the government is said to be doing likewise.

Lawyers representing both sides are said to be planning to meet in the coming days to thrash out the issue, while further discussions between the parties are expected to continue next week.

The matter needs to be urgently concluded given the fact that the blue-fin tuna season starts Thursday, 1 May, and wraps up on 30 June.

The European Commission has warned blue fin tuna catching member states and their fishermen they were obliged to follow all rules related to its in the 15-year Mediterranean recovery plan for blue-fin tuna, short of which member states would face legal proceedings.

Speaking to The Malta Independent on Sunday, National Fishing Cooperative secretary Paul Piscopo outlined fishermen’s two main concerns related to taking observers out to sea on tuna fishing expeditions.

First is the question of whether such observers would be treated as crew or as passengers. Secondly, and more importantly, is the question of responsibility and liability should an observer be injured on the vessel, which can be a dangerous place with slippery decks and a range of other potential dangers.

The government, Mr Piscopo says, asserts observers are insured through social security, but fishermen remain to be 100 per cent convinced. Another smaller issue raised by fishermen is who party would be responsible for the provision of food and lifejackets for observers - an extra expense fishermen are unwilling to incur.

On the whole, fishermen recognise that the measure will have to be introduced come what may, given the fact that it is an EU regulation. What they are calling into question are the details of its implementation.

Mr Piscopo holds faith in the capabilities of this year’s selected observers, all of who are fishermen and members of the Cooperative, but are unsure about next year’s observers.

This year’s seven Maltese observers were chosen after a call for applications published in the Government Gazette.

Observers will be looking for an illegal practices and noting the size of the tuna caught, Observers will also be stationed at tuna farms and even at locations where tuna are slaughtered.

In Malta there are 91 licensed blue-fin tuna fishing vessels, some 47 of which are over 15 metres in length, necessitating the presence of an observer aboard. The vessels carrying observers were chosen by lot, and observers are to remain on board the same vessels for the season’s duration.

The ‘Blue-fin Tuna Joint Deployment Plan’ is the end result of work by the International Commission for the Conservation of Tuna (ICCAT), which Malta as an EU member state has a duty to implement.

Over and above the presence of observers on board fishing vessels, more than 50 vessels and 16 airplanes from a number of EU states will be involved in the joint plan for the conservation of blue-fin tuna

The AFM itself will carry out 10 sea patrols and two air patrols a week over two weeks of the season.

France, Italy and Spain have already shown their commitment to the plan and have provided vessels to provide close surveillance to ensure that no illegal fishing takes place.

A total of 13 soldiers from the Maritime Squadron were also appropriately trained and are cooperating with the Fishing Department to ensure illegal fishing does not take place.