SPEARFISHING IS ILLEGAL AT CIRKEWWA AND OTHER AREAS.

When we finally joined the EU, we were blessed with having to adapt and implement many of their laws and regulations.

Some of these were related to the protection and management of the marine environment.

Mature Groupers. Photo by Myriam Lofellmacher

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1967/2006 of 21 December 2006 concerning management measures for the sustainable exploitation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean Sea, amending Regulation (EEC) No2847/93 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1626/94

Article 8 paragraph 4 of the above regulation states. "Spear-guns shall be prohibited if used in conjunction with underwater breathing apparatus (aqualung) or at night from sunset to dawn".

  Farther these were implemented in Malta through NOTICE TO MARINERS NO 5 of 2008 CONSERVATION AREAS AROUND WRECKS.

Within the designated area fishing that touches the bottom, like paritii, conzijet as well as pots and spearfishing are prohibited.

 Irrespective of this spearfishing, which I will reiterate is ILLEGAL, still goes on, early in the day, late afternoon and at night. Paritii are still being laid within 200meters of the wrecks. Well within the boundaries in the above image.

We need to start shouldering our responsibilities. We need to stop standing on the sidelines.

You can start doing your part by reporting illegalities by calling the RESCUE COORDINATION CENTRE on 21809279 and 22494202, or MARK TABONE 99422840 Assitant Fisheries NCO IC maritime Squadron Fisheries Officer.(I hope I got the tile and name right)

The Maritime Squadron has done sterling work whenever they have been advised of illegalities, but they can only react and prosecute  to infringements when the know that these are happening. I have personally seen AFM personnel at Cirkewwa pulling up conzijet from near the Rozi.

While we are making our efforts to manage Cirkewwa as a VOLUNTARY MARINE RESERVE we still need a more proactive enforcement by the Government to ensure that the illegalities are stopped BEFORE any damage is done.

One of the arguments used against having a police presence on site to act as a deterrent, is the issue of cost.

We believe that this cost issue can be overcome by the simple expedient of having the police at the Cirkewwa terminal to regularly walk the stretch of coast, some 200M in lenght to ensure that nobody is braking the law or better still act as a deterrent to those contemplating breaking the law.

Wreck Fish once plentiful and now non existent on the P29 and Rozi shot by illegal spearfishing. Photo Mark Fothergill

I would like to end this by asking that you save the numbers mentioned above onto your mobiles and report any illegalities you may observe.

These are: 1) Spearfishing  at any time of day or night,with or without aqualung at Cirkewwa withing the area shown on the above map.
 2) The laying of paritii, conzijiet and pots.

Thanks.
Tonio