The government felt it should intervene in a number of sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is presenting major challenges to the global economy and the European Union.
The Maltese fishing sector is no exception and therefore, as promised, aid will be given to those fishermen who fish for tuna. By allocating € 720,000 from national funds, the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights is launching a compensation scheme to provide assistance to fishermen of vessels registered as MFA and MFB and which have been allocated a quota to fish for bluefin tuna in 2020.
As part of this scheme, all those who will be applying will be entitled to aid amounting to € 2 per kilogram of quota allocated by the Department in 2020 for catching bluefin tuna.
Minister Anton Refalo said, “This decision was taken due to the fact that we know that in recent months the consumption of fish in our country has decreased substantially, as a result of various factors, including the the closure of businesses operating in the tourism and hospitality industry such as restaurants and hotels. In addition, local fish sales have also suffered a setback as a result of export difficulties. We as a government need to be present wherever there is a hurdle by offering financial assistance where needed. “
