Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1539881
4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 SEPTEMBER 2025 NEWS CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 "Alex Borg wants to strengthen the im- age of a youthful party and Darren Car- abott not only fits that bill but is also a moderate and has shown ability to com- municate," the sources said. It is unclear whether Carabott has ac- cepted the offer and when contacted by MaltaToday he was noncommittal, in- sisting the post had not yet been created. "I will give it a thought when and if it is eventually created but my priority right now is to ensure the PN organises itself better to be an alternative government," he said. However, Carabott added: "I will be at the party's and the country's service wherever I am needed." This last comment could be interpret- ed as a hint that he is interested in the offer but it is also the standard reply MPs generally give when asked about their political ambitions. Carabott, 31, is a lawyer by profes- sion and was elected for the first time to parliament in the 2022 general elec- tion from the 1st District. He scored the second highest number of votes among PN candidates, obtaining 2,503 votes on the first count, just 50 votes shy from district veteran Mario de Marco. In parliament he chairs the Public Ac- counts Committee and is also a member of the National Audit Office Accounts Committee. The post of deputy leader parliamen- tary affairs requires a change in the PN statute, something Borg has promised he will push for in the coming weeks. Last week, Adrian Delia, who narrowly lost the leadership to Borg, effectively ruled out becoming deputy leader, add- ing he was not interested in contesting another internal election. The post of deputy leader for party affairs is occupied by Alex Perici Ca- lascione, who is likely to stay on and provide the leadership team with expe- rience. But the party sources also said the offer to Carabott was part of a wid- er discussion Borg was having with his MPs to determine what portfolios they would be shadowing. "There have been several meetings between MPs and Alex Borg's chief of staff, Damian Spiteri, so that the lead- ership can gauge the different strengths before assigning portfolios," the sources said. More than three weeks after being elected leader, Borg had not reshuffled his shadow cabinet, leading to specula- tion that some were resisting his choic- es. The PN leader justified the delay saying he is no rush to carry out a re- shuffle. Alex Borg proposed Carabott during meeting on shadow portfolio talks Darren Carabott (centre) exiting the office of the National Audit Office in 2023 after filing a request for an investigation into the land transfer deal between the government and the American University of Malta. Impact assessment required for massive offshore fish farm THE Environment and Resourc- es Authority (ERA) has ruled that a full Environmental Impact As- sessment (EIA) will be required for a proposed large-scale off- shore fish farm 22km off the south-east coast of Malta. The authority cited the scale of the project, its location within a marine Special Protection Area (SPA), and uncertainties over its environmental impacts as justifi- cation. The project, covering a foot- print of around 90,000 square metres, foresees the installation of four, square platforms each measuring 100 metres by 100 metres, connected to four sub- merged cages measuring 50 me- tres by 50 metres. The platforms would rise about 20 metres above sea level, with gantry cranes extending their maximum height to 36 metres. Each structure would host offic- es, a helipad, photovoltaic panels, and lifeboats. Once fully opera- tional, the farm could produce between 5,000 and 8,000 tonnes of fish annually. The farm would adopt a mul- ti-trophic system, with fish reared in upper cages and crustaceans in the lower sections feeding on detritus from the fish, helping to clear the seabed of residual mate- rial. The feeding process will be fully automated, with infrared sensors dispensing feed according to the fish's condition, life stage, and target weight. The cages' posi- tion and depth will be adjustable, allowing them to be submerged further during rough seas to re- duce damage, minimise losses, and limit stress on the fish. Once mature, the animals will be trans- ported directly from the platform to clients' vessels. The developers indicated that the cages could also be used for scientific research and for cul- tivating ingredients for the cos- metics and pharmaceutical in- dustries, depending on demand. However, the exact species to be reared remains unspecified. While bluefin tuna, sea bass, and sea bream were cited as po- tential candidates, according to ERA the lack of clarity makes it difficult to determine the scale and nature of the environmental impacts. The site lies within the marine SPA known as Żona fil-Baħar fil-Lvant, an area important for seabirds such as the Scopoli's shearwater (Calonectris diomed- ea) and the European storm pet- rel (Hydrobates pelagicus). ERA highlighted potential risks from noise, night-time lighting, heli- copter traffic, and vessel activity, all of which could disturb or diso- rient seabirds during their breed- ing season. Other uncertainties include the effects of fish feed and excreta on water quality, possible accumula- tion of organic matter on the sea- bed, risks of oil slicks from thaw water, and marine litter from gear loss or packaging waste. Impacts from shading, mooring blocks, and possible alterations to hydrodynamic conditions were also identified as requiring detailed study. In view of these concerns, ERA concluded that both an EIA and an Appropriate Assessment un- der the Flora, Fauna and Natural Habitats Protection Regulations are necessary before the project can proceed. The project is being proposed by Seaculture Ltd, which is owned by the Israel-based Dagat Hayam Holdings and two Mal- tese companies, Abalone Limit- ed and Octupine Limited. Aba- lone is part-owned by Joseph M Sammut, a former Labour Party MP, while Octupine is owned by Pierre Balzan, whose Melita Ma- rine Group is involved in yacht- ing and shipyard projects. The directors of Seaculture Ltd are Maor Hemmo and Ron Ba- rouch Yehochua Meshoulam, both Israeli nationals. JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt