Euro 11 Million EU Funding For Malta Tuna Farmingff

Written by Natalia Freitas for atuna.com

The European Commission has approved the Operational Programme for Maltese Fisheries Industry scheduled to be taken into action between 2007 and 2015. Despite the official date, the programme was released by the Maltese Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs (MRRA) last October, and actions should start in 2009. 

Tuna fishing represents 65% of total Maltese annual catches. Bluefin is the major species targeted by the country’s fishing fleet.

The total eligible public expenditure of the programme amounts to € 11.163.105, with EU assistance from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) amounting to € 8.372.329.

The Operational programme has three main priorities in the country: 

1.       Adaptation of the fishing fleet – € 2.900.000 investment;

2.       Aquaculture, processing and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products – € 2.347.000 investment;

3.       Measures of common interest, which corresponds to upgrading fisheries infrastructures at ports, relocation of fish markets, facilitating marketing and promotional campaigns – € 5.460.105 investment.

Adapting Maltese fishing fleet activities includes a reduction of 6% on tuna longliners – from 89 to 85 vessels. In addition, the programme intends to increase the number of landing ports from 1 to 7. 

The aquaculture investments may particularly cause some discomfort among environmentalists and the Maltese tourism sector. According to the Operational Plan, the number of fish farms that should undertake environmentally friendly initiatives will be increased from 1 to 3 in 2015. 

Today Malta has seven operative fish ranches. 

The plan also announces a 10% increase of aquaculture exports to be completed during the period. 

One very common issue concerning Malta’s aquaculture industry is its proximity to the shore, which turned the waters of the popular bathing spots to a greenish color. 

In response, the programme is relocating the aquaculture installations further 3km from the shore: “This will allow the number of fish farms to expand and it is estimated that production of farmed fish will increase to 15.000 tons”, states the plan. 

That’s more than 10% of the 6 tons of fish farmed in 2006.