Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Clint Camilleri reiterated that the Fisheries Department has checked the number of tuna pens located in a temporary zone in the Northern Coastal Waters, after PD MP Godfrey Farrugia had highlighted that there were more pens than was allowed, saying that the number in operation were covered by their permit.

The number of tuna pens situated in a temporary site had been dramatically increased, from 12 to 21, when the process of pre-screening an application for this extension of the tuna farm had not been approved, The PD had previously said in a statement. Camilleri, while stating that the cages in operation are according to the permit, also said that more rings were found, however they did not have any cages or anything like that, and were not in operation.

PD MP Godfrey Farrugia however, said that the reason the rings are there and not the cages, is as the fish are put in during the summer mnths, not in the months prior. "The thought process is clear, for these farms to be filled with Tuna." He said that the number of cages is increasing in a temporary zone, "when we don't know the conclusion of scientific reports yet." 

Camilleri stressed that he does not know what the owner of the pens has in mind, however the extra pens are not currently in use. 

Partit Demokratiku MPs Godfrey Farrugia and Marlene Farrugia had asked the Parliamentary Permanent Committee of Environment and Development to discuss the regulation, operation and environmental monitoring of blue-fin tuna aquaculture situated in the Northern coastal waters. It was noted during the committee debate that there is an application to increase more cages on the site in question, but not to increase the fish tonnage. 

Farrugia, in today's committee debate, said that the site in question is a maritime zone, part of a Natura 2000 site. "We requested this discussion as we have a national aquaculture strategy covering 2014-2025." He mentioned a lack of monitoring, and also on the code of good practice possibly being breached.

He highlighted that the Auditor General, in a report, highlighted that the equilibrium between economical activities in marine conservation areas and ecosystems was not kept.

Environment Minister Jose Herrera noted that a number of decisions had to be taken on fish farms in the recent past, and the first question asked was whether we want that industry. He mentioned that much of the fish eaten by people is grown in fish farms. "Countries worldwide, including the EU, encourage and gives direction for this kind of industry," he said, noting that there would be issues with worldwide fish stocks if it weren't for the farms. He also highlighted the economic benefits of the industry and said government is not against the fish farm industry.

He said that there were fish arms close to the islands, and as they grew, it began to affect tourism etc. Studies were conducted to see where these farms could be relocated to. "I declared that I wanted things to change. I met the Planning CEO, as well as the Director General of fisheries and the ERA heads, and decided the way forward."

"We took strong positions that they either adhere to our policies or we would suspend their operations. Eventually we agreed. A number of the farms were sent to a designated zone in the South, while others went, temporarily, elsewhere. The choice was either have them temporarily move out or have them wait close to shore. They were placed in areas which would minimally affect the underwater ecology, in agreement by ERA experts."

He said there was no more space for these fish farms in the South of Malta, and studies are under way.

He said that it is hard to eliminate all kind of complaint. Every investment has some form of adverse effect, and what is important is to minimise it, he said. He mentioned that the number of complaints due to fish farms reduced.

Experts from the ERA, the Director General of Fisheries, and the PA spoke about the regulations and the strict sector rules. They noted that there are intricate systems in place to allow the authorities to know if pens have more fish than they are meant to.

The Fisheries representative said that last year there was an excess of tuna found in tuna pens, and the excess tuna were released back into the wild after AFM officials and members from the Fisheries Department went on site to noted farms having more tuna than was originally declared.

The Fisheries Department noted that the tuna population is recovering, according to ICCAT. It was also noted that there was an increase in Malta's tuna quota over the previous year.