Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1510560
Charlon Gouder is CEO of the Federation of Aquaculture Producers 12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 29 OCTOBER 2023 OPINION MALTA'S tuna industry often faces criticism for its negative impact on the sea during the summer months with com- plaints about sea slime or de- bris that can be encountered on the water. Undoubtedly, people have the right to enjoy our seas with- out any inconvenience caused by the aquaculture industry or any other industry. That is my personal position as CEO of the Federation of Aquaculture Producers, and I believe it is the responsibility of all of us to ensure this right is upheld. Yet it is unfortunate that the tuna farming industry gets to be blamed for a disproportion- ate amount of inconvenience or rubbish at sea, regardless of the actual causes. And indeed, the industry may have shunned publicity in the past; and in the process, tol- erated a distorted view of our standards. We welcome an open discussion as well as gen- uine criticism if we are to im- prove our practices – after all, this is an industry with a pres- ence in international political and legislative forums, namely ICCAT and the EU, and with nearly 1,000 full-time employ- ees in 2021 alone, aquaculture generated a total output of €225 million in 2021 – a 26% increase from the previous year. It is for this reason that this year, the federation's operating arm Aquaculture Resources Limited (ARL) embarked on a major, standard-setting, clean- up operation. Unlike previous years, fewer complaints seemed to have been registered in pub- lic about debris at sea – espe- cially in areas where prevailing winds bring it ashore. Was it just a matter of luck? Definitely not: ARL's successful campaign this summer man- aged to clean up oil slicks, mar- itime debris, and other forms of rubbish and waste along the entire coast of Malta. This in- itiative showcased ARL's and Maltese tuna companies' com- mitment to social responsibili- ty and environmental steward- ship in all of their economic activities. I personally thank AJD Tuna, Fish and Fish, MFF, and Mare- blu for supporting and financ- ing this initiative. It brought the entire industry together for a massive clean-up effort that spanned 90 days, during which we collected over 50 tonnes of waste and four tonnes of oil – equivalent to over half a tonne of waste and 50kg of oil, daily, from sea and shore. All sorts of waste and mar- itime debris was collected by our teams along the north and south of the Maltese coast: from tuna oil and fish oil to plastics, cardboard boxes, wooden pallets, organic waste, dead fish (including tuna) and engine oils. Our teams used muslin nets to collect oil waste, concentrating it with booms before removing it from the sea. We spared no effort in cleaning up, spending 11,000 man-hours at sea on four dif- ferent boats, seven days a week, for 90 days. In more complex spills, we collaborated with Transport Malta for immediate recovery. Four boats equipped with specialised cleaning tools monitored and cleaned a large stretch of the Maltese coast. We worked closely with the local councils of Marsaxlokk, Birżebbuġa, Marsaskala, St Paul's Bay, and Mellieħa. We set up hotlines for people to report any inconveniences, and together with the Environ- ment and Resources Authority, we acted swiftly. We also collaborated with the clean-up NGO Żibel to ad- dress an oil spill near Buġibba, demonstrating our commit- ment to swift action and envi- ronmental protection. Our performance was far from perfect, but it was defi- nitely a step in the right direc- tion. So, I want to express grat- itude to our dedicated workers on the boats, both at the farms but also out at sea, who carried out an impeccable job, even in the challenging conditions of Malta's hot summer weather. Their hard work and dedica- tion yielded positive results. Malta's tuna industry has demonstrated its commitment to environmental stewardship through its summer clean-up campaign. By actively address- ing sea contamination, re- sponding to reports of trash at sea, while adhering to industry regulations. The industry set a standard for responsible and sustainable practices. My hope is that next summer, other maritime industries will follow suit to ensure that we all do our part in keeping Malta's blue sea in excellent condition; clean and free from inconven- ience. For those who bene- fit from the sea as a resource, should contribute to its upkeep and cleanliness. An industry raising its own standards Charlon Gouder