“As a Local Council, we are very disappointed that now Birżebbuġa has to suffer from another industrial nuisance. The Ħal Far plant has been operating for less than a week and has already started creating inconveniences for our residents,” the Birżebbuġa local council said in a statement.

However, the facility has dismissed the claims. 

“Inspections have been carried out by the Environment and Resources Authority in which no foul smell similar to what you have indicated in your report could be traced as a result of the plant,” Charlon Gouder who represents the Aquaculture Resources Limited said. 

“The Council was consulted in the process of Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control and raised no objection.”

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. 

“The new facility is state of the art in the circular economy, turning protein meal and oil from fish offal into valuable commodities to be used in areas such as pet food and alternative feeding,” Gouder said. 

“Aquaculture Resources is proud of its high environmental standards.”

Have you noticed the smell?