NEWS | Wednesday, 03 December 2008

PRINT THIS ARTICLE

Bluefin tuna investigations

With reference to your article titled ‘Malta’s 25 million tuna claim under investigation’ (Maltatoday, 26th November 2008), it is unfortunate that once again your correspondent has chosen to base his article on misinformation and blatantly unfounded allegations.
What is even more unfortunate is that your paper persists in trying to mount a case against Malta, notwithstanding our repeated clarifications, and also notwithstanding our standing invite to whoever is concerned, including your correspondent, to check all documents pertaining to this highly important industry for the Maltese economy.
It is a blatant lie to state that there is an international investigation underway on Malta’s tuna exports. During the meeting held in Marrakesh last week, the Compliance Committee of ICCAT and the Permanent Working Group of the same Commission discussed actions to be taken on 44 different issues of non-compliance by 12 countries, and 5 non contracting parties for other issues. The European Community was identified in the first list for missing data but none of the issues arising refer to the claim as alleged by your paper. In fact that there was no discussion about the explanation given by the European Community on behalf of Malta and the issue of the carry over of blue fin tuna from one year to another was never discussed. Carryovers are not a prerogative to Malta and in the Adriatic they are the regular method for farming of small bluefin tuna.
During the same Marrakesh meeting, a particular contracting party compiled a list of alleged accusations presented in the worldwide press over the past months. Malta is actually mentioned twice out of the 44 allegations. All the contracting parties at ICCAT strongly remarked that allegations in the press should not be accepted unless they are backed by evidence. Many contracting parties actually expressed their disappointment at this particular contracting party who opted to cast doubts without any supporting proof.
ICCAT’s Compliance Committee will be convening again in March 2009 to discuss the measures taken by each contracting party to be compliant with ICCAT rules. This meeting will focus mainly on blue fin tuna and all contracting parties will be asked to demonstrate their compliance. The European Community will be one of these contracting parties and Malta looks forward to demonstrate its constant compliance to ICCAT regulations.

Dr. Anthony Gruppetta
Director General
Fisheries Conservation & Control
Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs

PRINT THIS ARTICLE

Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below.
Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.