Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Animal Rights Alicia Bugeja Said addressed an important workshop organised by the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) which focused on Malta’s commitment in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The parliamentary secretary stressed that the Maltese Government is committed to combating IUU fishing, which puts at risk the sustainability of maritime resources that are shared between different countries. She stressed that despite the work done over the years, this type of fishing remains one of the greatest threats to marine ecosystems, and creates unfair competition against those fishermen who work fairly and in accordance with the law.
In this context, she mentioned that Malta has established Aquatic Resources Malta, a research agency aimed at the sustainable management of aquatic resources and strengthening the scientific base to address challenges such as IUU.
She added that a small country like Malta cannot act alone, and is therefore calling for a level playing field between all countries. The same regulations should be applied to all those sharing the same maritime resources.
The parliamentary secretary also explained the efforts being made at European and Mediterranean level, including the implementation of European Council regulations and recommendations from the GFCM, as well as Maltese initiatives such as a 25 nautical mile Fisheries Management Zone, and the recent adoption of the National Fisheries Plan 2024.
Malta is also actively supporting the GFCM 2030 Strategy and is participating in the e-FishMed platform, which offers standardized training for fisheries control officers across the Mediterranean.
“We need to work together, as a region, to ensure consistent and fair application of all regulations. Only in this way can we protect our sea and the future of the fishing sector for all those who depend on it in a sustainable way,” concluded Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said.
