The application was filed by the Fish Conservation and Control Division, which has prepared a national aquaculture policy covering all aspects of this industry.

Among other things, it stipulates that fish-farming should be carried out by methods that do not harm the environment. This concept led the division to study the possibility of locating fish-farms further away from the coast.

The DOI said that a few years ago, a particular local council initiated a campaign for fish-farms to be moved as far away from the land as possible. This campaign came about as the result of an application for a fish-farm off Benghajsa.

The same local council was now apparently against any fish-farms, while another local council is now against an application for the extension of a fish-farm.

The DOI explained that what has been done so far is the beginning of a process to study the possibility of using the area in question for fish-farming. All factors pertaining to the development must be taken into consideration, including the shore and the people making use of it.

Independent consultants, who have to coordinate this study, will be chosen shortly, following the closure of the tender offer procedure yesterday.

The DOI said that the biological impact will not be the only aspect to be studied. The study will also deal with the economic, technical and waste management factors and take into consideration tourism and the diving industry.

The DOI concluded that, in general terms, and without prejudice to the study that still has to be carried out, it seems that fish-farming six kilometres off the coast at a depth of 80 metres will cause technical problems for the operators but will not have an impact on the coast.