Labour MP Joseph M. Sammut, party spokesman for agriculture and fisheries, said local industry and many Maltese families would suffer if the EU provisional decision to ban the commercial trade in tuna were to be implemented.

The government should not give in to pressure and should resist the proposal, Dr Sammut said. The Labour Party (PL) was displeased that EU fisheries commissioner Joe Borg had to give in to pressure so that provisional agreement has been achieved on the ban. It was not just for Commissioner Borg to be accused of protecting his country’s interests in the matter.

Harm to the tuna population was not the result of fishing for it all year round, but of the means used - by nets. Traditional fishing methods would not be harmful. A total prohibition would not protect the tuna because other countries, non-EU members, allow the fish to be caught without any controls, Dr Sammut said.