The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture is currently running the last phase of the scientific survey of fish, MEDITS, which is carried out on an annual basis and in a specific period of the year. This was announced by the Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Animal Rights Alicia Bugeja Said together with the Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Chris Bonett.
The main objective of this survey is to collect detailed information to better understand the sustainability of the various fish stocks that we have in the surrounding seas. From the beginning of July to the end of September, the fisheries research section, the FRU, will be engaged in implementing this survey.
During this survey, the scientific officers of the Department on board the vessel that is commissioned to do this scientific work will pick up the fish with a net from 45 positions around Malta in order to gather information about the seabed, which includes among others, information on various species of fish and other organisms, as well as oceanographic information such as sea temperature.
Through the vast information gathered from this survey, the FRU collaborates with local as well as foreign institutions in order to carry out scientific studies at a regional level. Through reports and scientific studies, the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture will be able to give a clearer picture of the ecological state of fish in Maltese and Gozitan territorial waters.
The Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said emphasized how, “Through this research, the Government will have the necessary scientific evidence in order to amend national policy and participate in the European one, and be able to implement the necessary changes in the fishing sector. This strategy leads to the protection of our seas, while guaranteeing sustainable fishing and economic viability”.
Parliamentary Secretary Chris Bonett said that from the program of European funds 2014-2020 €625,000 were invested, of which half a million euros are European funds so that this annual study can be carried out, funds that were used for the costs of the a boat as well as to buy scientific equipment, among others.
“From the 2014-2020 funding program, the Fisheries Unit within the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture has carried out several research projects on various species of fish found in the seas around the Maltese islands. Therefore, it is committed that from the new funding program there will be more funds allocated for research purposes so that we have a clearer picture of the state of the fish in the Maltese territorial waters,” claimed Dr Bonett.
