After much hue and cry the Rural Affairs and Resources Ministry and the Armed Forces of Malta have announced a new Blue-fin Tuna Joint Deployment Plan. According to the plan the Malta’s fishermen have to be with tuna catch observers being stationed aboard fishing vessels this summer. But unfortunately no deal has been struck over the arrangement despite soundings from the government to the contrary, informed the fishermen’s representatives.
The fishermen have no faith in the European Union requirement to have observers stationed aboard their vessels that Malta’s fishermen had planned to stage a protest on Thursday, May 1. Commenting on that Minister Pullicino said Maltese fishermen said they had expressed their commitment to the new rules and that talks were continuing on what he described as legal and technical points.
National Fishing Cooperative secretary Paul Piscopo pointed out fishermen’s two main concerns related to taking observers out to sea on tuna fishing expeditions. First whether such observers would be treated as crew or as passengers and secondly, who will take the responsibility and liability if an observer be injured on the vessel, which can be a dangerous place with slippery decks and a range of other potential dangers.
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. The European Commission has warned blue fin tuna catching member states they the fishermen have to 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.
