I am writing to you on behalf of Raymond Bugeja director of Ta’ Mattew Fisheries Ltd of 14, St Andrew Street, Marsaxlokk, with reference to the article, Something’s fishy in the tuna industry, MLP claims (TMID, 5 December).

In the said article a number of allegations are made with regard to Mr Bugeja, which allegations are totally false and unfounded. The facts are as follows:

i. The assertion of Mr Anthony Carabott, as quoted in your article, that Mr Bugeja was granted the registration of a new vessel after the Fishing Vessel Register closed for registration of new vessels in September 2003 is false.

Contrary to the assertion of Mr Carabott, the Register closed in October 2003 and not September. Mr Bugeja had applied on behalf of Ta’ Mattew Fisheries Ltd to register the vessel in question, well in advance of such date, and the vessel was in fact registered on 5 September 2003.

ii. The assertion of Mr Carabott, quoted in your article, that the new vessel was given a fishing quote for tuna caught in 2005, when the vessel in fact never left harbour, is also false. The vessel in fact left harbour for fishing between 8 July 2005 and 12 July 2005, and in such period it caught 25 tonnes of tuna as recorded in the vessel’s log book.

The transfer of the cage containing the tuna to the foreign purchaser in the zone denominated FAO2.2 is recorded in the same log book. This transfer is confirmed by the foreign purchaser and his local agent.

iii. The assertion of Mr Carabott that Mr Bugeja and Dr Anthony Gruppetta tampered with the tuna exportation tender process is also totally false for as Mr Carabott is well aware, the tuna exportation tender process is run by the two fishermen cooperatives.

Trusting the above clarifies all the false statements put forward by Mr Carabott, as reported in your newspaper, Mr Bugeja in his own name and on behalf of Ta’ Mattew Fisheries Ltd reserves all rights to take legal action.

Dr Mario de Marco

Valletta