The plant, which started operating at the end of September, has been courting controversy already with residents and the local council complaining about a stench emanating from the facility.

The facility has dismissed the claims. However, Schembri said that INDIS is actually working with the factory’s owners and studying remedies to eliminate the problem in the immediate future.

Meanwhile, ERA is currently investigating the odour and a series of monitoring inspections are currently being carried out. 

It is also inspecting whether the small came from nearby wharves or aquaculture farms. A fish farm operator has been notified to ensure that its activities are well-maintained. 

“These can also reach nearby residential areas due to prevailing winds,” she said. 

More recently, however, Moviment Graffitti claimed that silage from the plant is being disposed of in nearby Wied Żnuber.

Ħal Far’s tuna recycling plant is a project of some of the main players in the industry, namely Azzopardi Fisheries, MFF and Fish and Fish. It will process around 4,000 tonnes of tuna remains every year. 

Prior to the plant, the remains, which consist of the insides, the head, the spine and the tail, were usually thrown out at sea, around 11 nautical miles off the coast with the approval of authorities. 

Have you noticed the smell?