Small countries such as Malta have much to gain from setting up an agency for fishing control in the European Union, said Agriculture and Fisheries Minister George Pullicino yesterday.

Mr Pullicino said Malta can gain from the inspection and monitoring resources of the agency as well as from the fact that it (the agency) would offer immediate assistance in cases of illegal fishing.

Mr Pullicino made these arguments during a meeting for the EU Council of Ministers responsible for agriculture and fisheries to discuss the setting up of an EU fishing control agency.

The European Commission’s proposals are to establish a fishing control agency that would ensure a structure would be set up to monitor and inspect fishing activities.

Mr Pullicino said this agency should ensure that member states would have the facility to use the resources of the agency to ascertain adherence to conservation regulations by both EU states and other non-members.

During the meeting it was also decided that the EU should take necessary action to protect dolphins from drift net fishing in the English Channel and Atlantic Ocean.

Mr Pullicino also spoke during a discussion about the European Rural Development Fund and said that the specific needs of all members, but particularly small states such as Malta, should be looked into.