The Environment Ministry has found that fish farm operators were not respecting permit conditions.

Over the past days, multiple images have been shared on social media by swimmers and environmentalists who have come face to face with the sludge.  Reports have been received of the slime being present across various shorelines, ranging from Marsascala to Kalkara and further up to Sliema and Pembroke.

Minister Herrera recently confirmed that the sea slime that has appeared on vast stretches of Maltese coasts is coming from fish farms, and he also said that steps will be taken if irregularities were committed by fish farm operators.

Herrera said he had directed the Environment and Resources Authority and the Fisheries Departments to take the necessary steps and measures at law against operators who failed to honour their obligations.

A statement on Thursday confirmed that the absolute majority of the sludge was attributable to the tuna industry. This was the conclusion of an investigation by the Fisheries Department and the ERA.

Where it was identified that fish farm operators did not take action to mitigate the release of the oil and other related material, immediate measures were taken where the same operators were stopped from continuing to feed the fish until they implement the necessary measures to bring them in conformity with permit conditions, the government said.

The Federation that represents a number of the operators has committed to ensuring that the measures are implemented, the statement continued.

The Minister, while positively noting the agreement reached between operators, said that permit conditions must be respected in their totality, and that it is not acceptable for any condition not to be respected.