{"id":54693,"date":"2026-01-28T19:54:32","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T18:54:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/?p=54693"},"modified":"2026-01-28T19:56:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T18:56:53","slug":"the-national-fisheries-strategy-for-malta-2026-2036-is-launched-for-public-consultation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/28\/the-national-fisheries-strategy-for-malta-2026-2036-is-launched-for-public-consultation\/","title":{"rendered":"The National Fisheries Strategy for Malta 2026\u20132036 is launched for public consultation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>The Government with a clear vision for a sustainable future for the fishing sector<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Minister Anton Refalo and Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said launched for public consultation the National Fisheries Strategy 2026\u20132036. The strategy provides a long-term national framework for the sustainable development of the fisheries sector over the next ten years, with the aim of strengthening the sector\u2019s resilience, protecting marine ecosystems and supporting fishing communities.<\/p>\n<p>The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights, Anton Refalo, said &#8220;This strategy reflects the Government&#8217;s clear vision for a sustainable and resilient future for the fishing sector, which is an essential part of the identity, economy and cultural heritage of our country. The strategy is built on the principle that there can be no future for fishing without a healthy sea, and at the same time there can be no sustainability without social justice and decent living prospects for our fishermen.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Minister Refalo said that through this strategy they are investing in sustainability, generational renewal, infrastructure and training, to ensure that fishing remains viable and attractive to young people. He maintained that this vision is the fruit of an ongoing dialogue with fishermen and all stakeholders that will continue during the public consultation. \u201cThe Government remains committed to working hand in hand with the fishing communities so that this strategy is implemented effectively for the good of the sector,\u201d concluded the Minister.<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Animal Rights, Alicia Bugeja Said said that the strategy is also part of a measure in the Government&#8217;s electoral manifesto, which began work on with a broad consultation with fishermen, from which several important points and suggestions emerged that now form part of this strategy that is being launched for public consultation. She continued that this strategy addresses key challenges of the sector, including sustainability and generational renewal, while aligning with the Malta 2050 Vision.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_54696\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-54696\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141b.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-54696\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141b-300x169.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141b-300x169.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141b-150x84.jpeg 150w, http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141b.jpeg 534w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-54696\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Animal Rights, Alicia Bugeja Said<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&#8220;This strategy places fishermen at the centre of fisheries policy, while also addressing sustainability and innovation in the sector. As a Government we recognised the need for this strategy and are satisfied that with continuous work also from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, we have come to launch it for public consultation,&#8221; said Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said.<\/p>\n<p>The Director General of the Department for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Bjorn Azzopardi, explained that this strategy is built on an extensive process of 37 consultation meetings with fishermen from different ports and who fish different fisheries and which continued with a wide consultation with Ministries and entities that in some way touch on the fisheries sector.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_54694\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-54694\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141c.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-54694\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141c-300x169.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141c-300x169.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141c-150x84.jpeg 150w, http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141c.jpeg 534w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-54694\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Director General of the Department for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Bjorn Azzopardi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThe strategy that we are proposing is built on four strategic pillars \u2013 sustainable fishing, generational renewal, investment in infrastructure, and training of fishermen. From these pillars emerge 20 strategic objectives and no less than 86 measures that will guide the development of the sector over the next ten years,\u201d explained Mr Azzopardi.<\/p>\n<p>Three public consultation meetings will be organised in different parts of the Maltese islands in the coming weeks. One can submit their suggestions by visiting: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.mt\/mt\/publicconsultation\/Pages\/2026\/NL-0002-2026.aspx\">https:\/\/www.gov.mt\/mt\/publicconsultation\/Pages\/2026\/NL-0002-2026.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>Photos (MAFA)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_54693\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"54693\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Government with a clear vision for a sustainable future for the fishing sector Minister Anton Refalo and Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said launched for public consultation the National Fisheries Strategy 2026\u20132036. The strategy provides a long-term national framework for the sustainable development of the fisheries sector over the next ten years, with the aim [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_54693\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"54693\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":54695,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-54693","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-local-news"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a.jpeg",534,300,false],"thumbnail":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a-150x84.jpeg",150,84,true],"medium":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a-300x169.jpeg",300,169,true],"medium_large":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a.jpeg",534,300,false],"large":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a.jpeg",534,300,false],"1536x1536":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a.jpeg",534,300,false],"2048x2048":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a.jpeg",534,300,false],"td_0x420":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a.jpeg",534,300,false],"td_80x60":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a-80x60.jpeg",80,60,true],"td_218x150":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a-218x150.jpeg",218,150,true],"td_324x400":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a-324x300.jpeg",324,300,true],"td_696x0":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a.jpeg",534,300,false],"td_1068x0":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a.jpeg",534,300,false],"td_100x70":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a-100x70.jpeg",100,70,true],"td_265x198":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a-265x198.jpeg",265,198,true],"td_324x160":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a-324x160.jpeg",324,160,true],"td_324x235":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a-324x235.jpeg",324,235,true],"td_356x220":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a-356x220.jpeg",356,220,true],"td_356x364":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a-356x300.jpeg",356,300,true],"td_533x261":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a-533x261.jpeg",533,261,true],"td_534x462":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a.jpeg",534,300,false],"td_696x385":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a.jpeg",534,300,false],"td_741x486":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a.jpeg",534,300,false],"td_1068x580":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PR260141a.jpeg",534,300,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Bernard Lynch","author_link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/author\/bernardlynch\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"The Government with a clear vision for a sustainable future for the fishing sector Minister Anton Refalo and Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said launched for public consultation the National Fisheries Strategy 2026\u20132036. The strategy provides a long-term national framework for the sustainable development of the fisheries sector over the next ten years, with the aim&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54693"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54693\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54697,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54693\/revisions\/54697"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54695"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}