Malta’s fishermen are going to get some much-needed help and protection in their hunt for lampuki (dolphinfish) following a growing threat from their Tunisian counterparts.

This week, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean approved measures to safeguard the use of anchored Fishing Aggregating Devices (FADs) for lampuki, the government said in a statement.

At the start of September, Malta Today reported how Maltese fishermen were being threatened by Tunisian fisherman and one particular vessel,  nicknamed the ‘Bin Laden’, who were claimed to be using violent methods to steal their catch.

FADs and the vessels authorised to use them will need to be registered and be made public. This, authorities hope will prevent unregulated situations whereby FADs were being damaged or fished upon by other countries.

The material of FADS will no longer entangle fish other than lampuki and will be biodegradable.

Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Clint Camilleri said that he hopes that the new rules will make the sector operate more sustainably with more clearer parameters.

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