The Ocean Sentinel is one of three surveillance vessels commissioned by the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) which is currently carrying out maritime inspections, particularly in the Mediterranean.
This vessel is carrying out crucial work to ensure that fishing vessels comply with the laws of the European Union, the GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean) and the ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas), particularly in international waters.
Officials from Malta and EU Member States are working together on board the Ocean Sentinel to monitor fishing vessels. Currently, due to the tuna fishing season, inspections are focusing on purse seine vessels and towing vessels, which are located 25 nautical miles off the southern coast of Malta, the area where most catches are made. The Ocean Sentinel is making a valuable contribution in this sector as it has detected a number of violations in recent seasons, demonstrating how effective this vessel is in controlling fisheries.
The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture is actively participating in this initiative, through the involvement of inspectors on board the vessel as well as in the EFCA Control Room located in Vigo, Spain. They follow the monitoring of the VMS system, record catches and enforce where necessary.
Recently, an important enforcement action was taken when some third country vessels entered the local fishing territory without the necessary authorisation. These vessels, including Turkish vessels, were observed close to the Maltese coast and the necessary steps were taken.
After a number of Maltese fishermen passed on information about illegal activities by foreign vessels a few years ago, this led to the EFCA and the European Commission responding to Malta’s requests and the Ocean Sentinel was sent to the Sicilian area in order to strengthen surveillance operations.
At the same time, Malta is continuing to work at European level, with negotiations to strengthen Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) and for the GFCM to ensure that the obligations of European fishermen are also enforced on those from third countries. A provisional agreement has also been reached on a regulation on third countries that allow unsustainable fishing.
Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Animal Rights, Alicia Bugeja Said, praised the work being done to protect the interests of Maltese fishermen. “The Maltese Government, through the Department of Fisheries in cooperation with EFCA, remains committed to protecting the interests of Maltese fishermen and promoting sustainable fishing for the benefit of all,” concluded Bugeja Said.
Photo (MAFA_PS)
