The Aquaculture Directorate oversees the research and development as well as the
regulatory arm of Aquaculture within the Department of Fisheries and
Aquaculture. In addition, the Directorate is
responsible for the implementation of the Aquaculture
Strategy for the Maltese Islands 2014 - 2025 which provides a holistic vision for the Aquaculture Sector in Malta.
Implementation of the Aquaculture Strategy
The implementation of the Strategy follows the four
key objectives that were identified in the technical document that led to the
formulation of the Final Strategy: namely improved regulation, improved
operation, improved environmental monitoring and better innovation.
- Improved regulation: To streamline the regulatory environment
under one Directorate, with a clear policy on site locations, minimal conflict
with other users, and standard conditions for all operators.
- Improved operation: To create efficient, productive farms
operating according to the principles of best management practice, complying
with their operating consents, causing no nuisance to other coastal users, and
with a positive public image.
- Improved environmental monitoring: To create a system that
recognises the link between biomass and impacts, specifies limits to what
constitutes adverse impact (Environmental Quality Standards - EQS), over what
area such impacts are acceptable (Allowed Zone of Affects – AZA), and is
proportionate, practical and cost effective.
- Better Innovation: To create better facilities, funding and
human resources to allow high quality applied research for the benefit of all
industry operators.
These
four key objectives are being dealt with through priorities for action. The
regulatory arm of the aquaculture directorate is being strengthened in order to
prioritise on the updating of the national policy, creating a working group to
liaise between the industry, the government and the Planning and Environmental
Resource Authorities, as well as the identification and applications for new
aquaculture zones that will lead to the expansion of the industry. Through this
initiative, the North Aquaculture Zone is established and it will contain all
tuna farm sites that previously were at Sikka l-Bajda and the Comino Channel.
Operational issues prioritise on better
management of baitfish issues for the capture based aquaculture sector.
For improved environmental monitoring, priority will be given to a review
of the environmental monitoring system and the development of Environmental
Quality Standards and Allowed Zone of Affects.
Innovation
issues will prioritise on its Research & Development capabilities, along
with an emphasis on research towards species diversification.
The
Directorate also serves an educational role, where local (MCAST) and foreign
students carry out their studies and research projects.
Number Of Farms & Production
The industry has 6 tuna ranches that produce over 80% of Malta’s aquaculture production through capture-based aquaculture, and 2 closed cycle species farms that produce sea bream, sea bass and meagre. The tuna farms operate from the South and North Aquaculture zones, whereas the closed cycle species farms operate closer to shore at Mistra Bay, St Paul’s Bay, Mellieha on the north coast and off Xrobb l-Ghagin on the southern end of the Maltese Islands.
According to the National Statistics Office (NSO), in in 2020 the industry produced a total of 19,829 tons of fish with a total value of €215,447 million. 16,617 tons of Malta’s production in 2020 was Bluefin tuna and the remainder was Sea bass, Sea bream and other species.
Maltese Fish Farms - Information
Closed Cycle
The farming of
“closed cycle species” (CCS) such as sea bream, sea bass and meagre are
cultured from eggs produced in hatcheries and fed on manufactured dry feed. The fingerlings grown in Malta
are imported from hatcheries in Italy or France.
Capture Based Species
The
production process for blue-fin tuna consists of the capture of wild adult fish
(typically around 100kg) in May/June mainly in the southern Mediterranean
region, before being transferred back to pens in Malta, where they are fattened
for a period of 6 months or more. The fish are fed on baitfish which is
imported frozen. They gain about 30% bodyweight before harvest mostly in the
autumn period.
Research & Development
The key areas for research and
development focus on the needs for industry development - that is the
development of closed cycle systems for species with a high economic return,
such as the blue-fin tuna, the amberjack, red scorpion-fish, red porgy, mullet,
etc. Other species that are of interest include the common cuttlefish, the grey
mullet, and species that can be used as live feed. Research is ongoing for fish
husbandry techniques and any other area that may need to be investigated.
Strategy
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