The Malta Independent 13 February 2025, Thursday
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BirdLife Malta urges better fisheries management with new EU regulation on fisheries control

Sunday, 19 January 2025, 09:00 Last update: about 24 days ago

Justine Borg

Since 2021, BirdLife Malta (BLM) has collaborated with fishers through the Life PanPuffinus! project to address seabird by-catch - the accidental capture of seabirds in fishing gear. This partnership has been invaluable, with fishers sharing knowledge of when, where and how by-catch occurs, enabling collaborative efforts to mitigate it.

Fisheries are essential to Mediterranean communities, employing around 260,000 fishers and providing an annual average of 20kg of protein per capita. During the 2010s, the Mediterranean and Black Sea reported an average annual catch of 1.31 million tonnes. An in-depth understanding of fish stock biomass and trends is crucial for sustainable resource use, food security and fisheries employment, but the lack of comprehensive assessments restricts practical advice and management strategies. By-catch poses another significant challenge, with an estimated 195,000 seabirds incidentally caught annually in European waters. Collecting data on by-catch is also critical to understanding its scale and implementing measures to reduce its impact. 

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Fishing practices are evolving in response to global challenges like depleting fish stocks and stricter regulations. In 2024, Regulation (EU) 2023/2842 was introduced to modernise fisheries control, inspection and enforcement systems. This regulation aims to improve data collection on fish stocks and by-catch, particularly through new requirements. 

Fishers use bait for their longlines, unintentionally attracting seabirds into the risk of by-catch (Photo by Justine Borg)

 

BLM has released a position paper outlining the regulation's major changes, proposing effective implementation in Malta, and highlighting its benefits for fishers, marine conservation and seabirds. A key provision is the requirement for all fishing vessels to install Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) by 2030, expanding the current requirement from vessels over 12 metres. BLM views VMS as a valuable tool for combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in Maltese waters. 

However, VMS alone cannot fully protect marine ecosystems from IUU fishing. Many of Malta's marine protected areas (MPAs) lack effective management, allowing fishing within their boundaries. Evidence from other countries shows that well-managed MPAs with varying levels of protection, such as no-take zones (where no fishing activities are allowed), temporary closures and restrictions on destructive gear, lead to increased fish sizes, higher catches and economic benefits for fishers. Protecting habitats like nursery and spawning grounds, seabird foraging areas and rafting zones is critical for an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management. 

VMS data can also help identify overlaps between fishing activities and seabird occurrence, enabling targeted mitigation measures to reduce seabird by-catch. BLM recommends practices such as night setting of lines and nets, minimising deck lighting and managing discards during setting or hauling. Through the EU LIFE PanPuffinus! Project, BLM has collaborated with fishers to test a scarybird deterrent to reduce interactions with seabirds. This mitigation measure has been well-received by fishers, and its effectiveness in longline operations is being tested. 

Starting in 2028, all vessels, regardless of size, will be required to have an electronic reporting system which includes the use of electronic logbooks. Fishing vessels under 12 metres may report catches electronically using mobile apps. The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture has begun distributing tablets to fishers, providing access to this technology. These tools enhance traceability, simplify reporting for small-scale operators and supply critical data for fisheries science and resource management. 

BirdLife Malta has been testing a scarybird deterrent to reduce fisheries interaction with seabirds (Photo by Martin Austad)

 

While these systems modernise data collection, they may challenge fishers with limited capacity or reluctance to adopt new technologies. This could lead to unreported or misreported catches, undermining efforts to reduce IUU fishing. Effective control and inspection, combined with education and training, are essential to address these challenges.

The fishing logbook will also include details about fishing gear and lost equipment. An estimated 6.4 million tonnes of fishing gear are lost annually in oceans, causing entanglement or ingestion incidents among vulnerable species. In recent years, NGO Żibel and volunteers retrieved 169 abandoned fishing nets along Malta's coastline, highlighting the need to address lost fishing gear. BLM anticipates implementing this measure will provide insights into the scale of the issue, facilitating more effective management strategies. Education and training are vital to help fishers collect better data, reduce incidences of abandoned or lost nets and inform mitigation strategies. 

Fishing activities often overlap with seabird occurrence (Photo by Rita Matos)

 

Starting in 2026, fishers must also electronically record by-catch of sensitive species, specifying whether they were released alive, injured or dead. Currently, data on seabird by-catch in Maltese waters is insufficient. This new measure will help quantify by-catch and implement targeted mitigation measures. BLM hopes accurate data on incidental catches will drive governments and the EU to enforce stronger protective measures, such as mandating mitigation strategies for fishers through national legislation. Additionally, education efforts should help fishers report by-catch of sensitive species, understand mitigation measures and accurately identify species. 

On a final note, BLM supports the regulation but emphasises the need for comprehensive MPA management, involving fishers in decision-making, continuous education and funding. A holistic approach is essential to ensure fisheries management supports both environmental conservation and the livelihoods of those dependent on marine resources.

 

Justine Borg is Marine Policy officer at BirdLife Malta 

 

Position Paper can be found here

 


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