There’s an old saying in English that goes: “A stitch in time saves nine”. Earlier this week, we announced another investment of €1m that will further mitigate the fuel expenses incurred by the Maltese fishing community. This initiative will continue to give the peace of mind that our fishers truly deserve, at a time of price instability and international food insecurity.

This initiative will provide the well-needed buffer that our fishing industry so desperately needs, allowing it to sustainably prosper in the years to come. It will directly contribute towards our country’s economic sustainability and food production goals, for the benefit of each and every one of us.

This latest news continues to build upon a similar scheme announced by government last year. A total of €700,000 was disbursed to about 280 fishers registered with the Department of Fisheries, at a time when the sudden explosion in fuel prices, caused by the war in Ukraine, posed a significant threat, if not an existential one, for an entire industry. This year’s iteration of this scheme, in turn will impact 390.

While presenting this new initiative a few days ago, I observed how the previous iteration of this fuel-subsidy scheme had left a significant impact on a myriad of connected factors.

During 2022, the Pixkerija managed to exceed the amount of fish sold in previous years, even before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The same information gathered by the Pixkerija also shows how the prices of the most popular type of fish, like the dolphinfish (lampuki) and the sea bream (pagru), managed to stabilise while remaining accessible to the Maltese and Gozitan consumer.

This is indeed a positive step forward. At a time when price inflation of the most basic consumer goods looms over the European continent, this practical measure has helped to ensure that the price of locally-caught fish has remained steady and available to the market.

It does not take an economist to understand the implications of what would have happened if the government had decided against creating such a scheme. Our fishers would have either offset the increase in expenses on their products, or worse still, stopped fishing altogether, perhaps permanently.

Either scenario would have threatened the supply side of fish in the short-term, leading to a surge in prices. Moreover, the blow to our fishing industry would have been considerable. It would have taken years, if not generations, for our fishing industry to recover.

The timing of this news also came into play. Our fishers are currently preparing for the upcoming tuna and swordfish fishing seasons. Indeed, the consultation process conducted just a few weeks ago, was undertaken to inform the industry of the increase in the tuna fishing quotas that government was able to obtain last year. Our decisions in consultation with the fishing sector, will ensure a more transparent and equitable outcome for all fishers big and small.

I am conscious of the sensitive economics of the fishing sector. Having spent significant research time with fishers, I am aware of how global events and decisions by international state actors impacts the daily livelihoods of entire communities in our country. This measure to support active fishermen is in line with our thinking as a government – to help those who are doing their best but may be struggling.

The challenges we face are many and our responses must meet each of them. As mentioned in last week’s piece, the government’s vision is informed by consistent consultation. This ensures that we remain knowledgeable and compassionate of everyone’s concerns and support their aspirations.

Our efforts do not stop today. We look forward to investing in further research initiatives that can allow our industry to remain sustainable and grow further. The laws and policies that we will enact in the coming weeks and months will give the Maltese fishing industry the tools needed to regenerate and overcome any challenges that it might face in the future.

It's only through such a concentrated effort, on both a policy and legislative front, that this government ensures the safeguarding of our fishers’ livelihoods. Fuel price instability is only one in a long list of challenges that we will face, and overcome together, for the benefit of all.

Alicia Bugeja Said is Parliamentary Secretary within the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights