Time and time again, the government of Malta has reiterated the necessity of working hand in hand, directly and indirectly, with all those involved within the fishing and aquaculture sectors, according to Alicia Bugeja Said, the parliamentary secretary for
Fisheries, Aquaculture and Animal Welfare.
The reason why is obvious: No one can deny the significant economic, cultural and social impact that these industries have historically retained, and continue to have to this day.
In this light, this government recognises the need to significantly support these industries as necessary. To date, several financial schemes, incentives and infrastructural projects were successfully set in motion. These have all directly contributed towards bettering the everyday lives of our fishermen, while protecting them to the best of our ability from foreign economic and political threats.
In parallel, as legislators we are obliged to ensure that the legal and policy frameworks in place leave their desired beneficial impact on our community. As representatives, we need to truly reflect the present aspirations and needs of the local population, while protecting the future interest of the whole community. This balancing act was indeed the fulcrum for the latest Fisheries Bill, which I presented in the House of Representatives earlier this week.
This Bill contains hefty amendments to the Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, the main legislation regulating the fishing industry. Our aim for this Bill is to strengthen the continuous and multilateral support that this government offers to our fishermen. This Bill will also open the doors for the provision of additional opportunities for our fishermen, while also pursuing new avenues in strengthening the sector.
The main urge for change, however, was ensuring a fairer, and more effective judicial framework; a legal system which recognises the everyday realities of our fishing communities, lays down more reasonable fines and is more proactive in helping out those who suffered unwarranted damage to their livelihoods.