Malta is backing a proposal to increase the tuna quotas, a government statement read.

Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said attended the European Minister Council meeting for Ministers from the agricultural and fishing sectors to discuss various topics which fall under the International Commission for the Conservation of Tuna.

The studies and discussions on the tuna stock in the Mediterranean have shown a significant increase in the tuna population prompting the decision, the government said.

Bugeja Said said that "Malta was awaiting the results of this study in order to make an informed decision. Our work to conserve tuna in the past years has resulted in in this significant increase."

She continued to explain that now is the time to give back to the fishermen who sacrificed for so long, even financially to help the conservation efforts.

Bugeja Said stated that "the study has to be respected and I hope that the quota will be proportional with the smaller countries of the European Union in order to secure the future of the fishing industry."