Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1350550
7 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 MARCH 2021 NEWS Have you ever considered teaching English as a foreign language? Teaching English as a foreign language is a rewarding career! The ELT Council would like to remind everyone that the next TELT exam will be held on 17th April 2021. Applications are open until 18th March 2021. Only online applications are accepted. Please visit https://myexams.gov.mt/applications/ to apply. We are pleased to offer both TELT and SEPTT exams free of charge throughout 2021. More information: www.eltcouncil.gov.mt • 2598 1241/2/3/4 • info.eltcouncil@gov.mt KARL AZZOPARDI MALTA'S two fishing coop- eratives – Għaqda Koperattiva Tas-Sajd (GħKS) and Koperatti- va Tas-Sajd Malta (KSM) – have clashed after government an- nounced it would be renewing fishing licences for bluefin tuna, a prized export that fetches ex- traordinary prices. Small-scale fishers who ob- tained their first ever tuna quota in 2019 have balked at the prospect of having to apply once again for the licence, due to the extensive investment carried out on their vessels. But other fishers say the re- newable two-year licence al- lows a renewal of the industry by allowing in new players. In 2019, the government an- nounced an increase to the national tuna quota. Some 52 fishermen with boats smaller than 12m in length, were issued a special licence for the first time, with a quota of 40,500kg. They had to have caught at least 400kg of swordfish in the previous year to be eligibe for the new tuna quota. A further 63 authorised ves- sels larger than 12m, were as- siged a quota of 296,000kg; other vessels not falling under either category, were given a by-catch quota of 9,700kg; a further 2,000kg was reserved for recreational fishers and 5,000kg as contingency. Previously, bluefin tuna quo- tas had only been distributed solely among the larger oper- ators. Now in 2021, the govern- ment announced it will renew the 2019 special licence for the 52 fishers with vessels smaller than 12m. But the KSM cooperative is arguing that these special li- cence holders were never told their licences were valid for just two years. "Some of us have invested in our vessels and fishing equipment. With no guarantee of keeping this licence, we cannot risk end- ing up empty-handed," a KSM source told this newspaper. Entering the bluefin industry requires thousands of euros in investment, and the technique used requires specialised gear and vessels. The tuna is caught using surface long-lines with baited hooks attached at inter- vals. KSM has insisted the transfer date should at least be extend- ed to the 1 April, instructing its members not to file their new licence applications as yet. The GħKS cooperative on the other hand, has welcomed the renewable licensing system, because it allows new individ- uals to enter the industry. "We never agreed with the quota system as introduced under the Nationalist administration... they had handed out quotas based on historical rights. It was unfair, and only favoured those who have been in the in- dustry for a longer time, block- ing new fishers from catching tuna," GħKS secretary Paul Piscopo told MaltaToday. Piscopo argued that the 2019 licensing regime allowed a number of fishers to rent out their special licence on an an- nua basis. "It meant that they could stay at home by mak- ing money off others, or even worse, continue fishing and en- joy two incomes." Piscopo insisted fisherman who applied for the 2019 li- cence had been forewarned about the 2021 expiry. But KSM sources disagree. The Nationalist candidate for Europe, Peter Agius, a keen observer of agricultural and fishing affairs, says tuna fish- ers who have suffered restrict- ed quotas and a severe penalty regime, should now be repaid with a fairer system after the increase in tuna populations. "Government's handling of as- signing licenses, to then reopen the whole system without no- tice after just two years, lacks basic transparency and goes against security of investment," he said. Agius said the fisheries indus- try deserved more transparen- cy. "We cannot expect young fishermen to enter this already very difficult activity if gov- ernment fails to secure private investment for the foreseeable future." The fisheries ministry has ar- gued that it wants to expand the number of fishermen allo- cated a tuna quota. "In view of the fact that the ICCAT Annual Meeting of 2020 was cancelled as a result of the pandemic, a decision was taken whereby the 2020 Blue Fin Tuna Quota is rolled over to 2021," a ministry spokesperson said. They said even trade repre- sentatives wanted the roll-over on the licences. "The ministry, while ensuring that those who benefitted in 2021 continue to benefit in the same way, has reaffirmed its objective for further inclusion by re-issuing the Young Fishers Scheme, and expanding furthermore the pa- rameters based on Swordfish and Albacore catches so that this year, an unprecedented record number of fishermen are being given a Blue Fin Tu- na authorisation," it said. "This means that in three years, the number of fishing vessels being allocated a quota has tripled to a total number of 180 vessels." kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt Fishing coops disagree over renewable tuna quota for small boats Small-scale fishers who obtained their first ever tuna quota in 2019 have balked at the prospect of having to apply once again for the licence, due to the extensive investment carried out on their vessels. But other fishers say the renewable two-year licence allows a renewal of the industry by allowing in new players