A few years back, Malta was at the centre of a tuna war which involved Maltese and Italian fishermen who were at loggerheads over a catch of fish.

The Italians claimed the catch was theirs, but the Maltese claimed it too and went on to take it. The government of Malta, meanwhile, had decided that the catch belonged to the Italians and was legitimate and ordered the fishery authorities to hand it over. There was all out war as the whole of Marsaxlokk marched down Crucifix Hill and assaulted the Italian fishermen. As they swam for their vessels, they were pelted with stones and glass bottles.

On seeing that their quarry had escaped, the Xlukkajri marched on the Ministry and all hell broke loose as a detachment of police officers tried desperately to fend them off.

It all seems so long ago, but it was only a few years ago. And how things have gone full circle. Over the weekend, Greenpeace vessels tried to free tuna which were being transported to Malta to be placed in pens. They were prevented from doing so by the Armed Forces of Malta and the authorities have gone on record in stating that the tuna were caught legally, and not by the purse seiner method – the quota of which closed.

But Greenpeace is adamant that it will continue operations. It has stated in this newspaper that the matter of the tuna being caught illegally is “irrelevant” and that “the message needs to be driven home” that if the Mediterranean blue fin tuna is not allowed to recover, it will become extinct.

To make it clear, Greenpeace is right. It is a foregone conclusion – if tuna continue to be fished out, as they are, they will never recover and that will be one more species that humankind will have eradicated.

What is equally clear is that you cannot simply take the law into your own hands and forcibly attempt to free tuna which have been caught in accordance with the law.

It is a very clear case of backyard syndrome for Malta. Most people in Malta have watched the programmes where Discovery Channel tagged along with the Rainbow Warrior in their deployment to prevent whale catching. Every person who watched the programme was on Greenpeace’s side. Every time a whaling attempt was foiled, people rejoiced – even in Malta.

But the reality of having the problem on your doorstep is an entirely different matter. The truth of it all is that what we are doing to tuna stocks is no worse than what is being done to the whale population. We are, as citizens of Malta, passively and actively taking part in their depletion. But what is to be done? It is clear that the rule of law states that the Maltese fishermen did no wrong. But morality should tell us a very different story. What is needed is for a strong position which is agreed on to allow the tuna farming industry to continue – but in a sustainable manner. It is clear that catching them, fattening them and exporting them is not going to do anything to help global stocks. And this is where glimmer of hope emerges. The San Lucjan Aquaculture centre actually managed a first in hatching fry last year. A fair amount of eggs were lost, but we hope that this year, the technique can be refined and result in an established method of captive tuna breeding.