Tuna Farm To Be Penalised For Slime Found In Bays
Malta’s environmental authority is taking action against a tuna farm after weeks of oily slime polluting the island’s waters. The greasy residue, which has been washing up from Mellieħa to Sliema, has sparked outrage and calls for accountability.
Speaking to Times of Malta, the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) confirmed that an administrative fine is on the way, though the exact penalty and infringement have yet to be disclosed. “We are still in the process of taking action and calculating the administrative fine,” an ERA spokesperson said.
The authority reminded operators that their permits require strict safeguards to stop slime from escaping and that they must have contingency plans in place for when leaks happen. “These measures are required because slime discharge during feeding is common across the industry,” ERA explained.
After weeks of silence, the Fisheries Ministry finally responded to questions on Wednesday. “Government urges the industry to remain committed and to continue investing in long-term solutions to eliminate this problem,” it said, stressing that “it is in everyone’s interest that the sector operates sustainably and responsibly.”
The ministry added that it is responsible for licensing aquaculture operations in line with environmental laws but stopped short of confirming whether any regulations had been broken.
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