Maltese fishermen last week lashed out at a decision to keep bluefin tuna quotas almost intact for 2013, despite scientific evidence that the stock is recovering rapidly.
But the Federation of Maltese Aquaculture Producers took a softer stance although it hinted it is expecting a change in the coming years.
The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) made the decision at its annual conference in
National Fisheries Cooperative secretary Raymond Bugeja complained that the decision is not fair on fishermen as they were expecting a substantial increase.
ICCAT, the international body responsible for the setting of quotas, decided to increase its annual quota by just 500 tons over 2012, reaching a total of 13,400 tons – the same as in 2010.
“Following the positive scientific evidence showing tuna is recovering very rapidly, we were expecting the global quota to increase at least to 16,000 tons. This 500-ton increase will mean a mere five tons more for Maltese fishermen next year and this is not fair for our industry,” Mr. Bugeja said.
In the past few years, due to overfishing and dwindling tuna stocks in the
Maltese fishermen were badly hit, seeing their annual quota reduced by half over a three-year period, reaching 160 tons this year.
“We wanted our quota to increase at least to 200 tons in 2013. However, the EU opposed to this increase and we have to suffer the consequences once again,” Mr. Bugeja said.
But the federation, which represents Maltese tuna ranchers, said it is generally satisfied with the outcome of the ICCAT meeting and feels vindicated in its stance over the past few years.
“Though it considers that the contracting partners could have easily pushed for a greater increase consistently with scientific advice and the need to ensure sustainability, it accepts this year’s result in view of the commitment made to increase the quota in future whenever such increase is justified by scientific advice.”
FMAP said it is optimistic that the recovery will continue in the coming years and it is clear that the management of this stock is a success story. Bluefin tuna is very lucrative for Maltese fishermen and tuna ranchers as juvenile fish is flown directly to the Japanese sushi and sashimi markets after fattening, securing high prices.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Environment has instructed localities to base their stocking schedules on actual conditions in each farming area, while developing plans, allocating resources, and implementing synchronized measures for disease prevention and disaster risk management in aquaculture production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cakes and surimi exceeded USD 45 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025, indicating a positive outlook for this product segment amid recovering demand in many markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the week from April 4th to 10th, 2026, Quang Ngai province intensified its monitoring and law enforcement activities with the determination to eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Thanh Hoa’s shrimp sector is undergoing a strong transformation by accelerating the adoption of high technology, helping to improve productivity, increase profits, and meet market demands. The province currently has about 4,100 hectares of shrimp farming, with output continuing to rise despite stable farming area, mainly due to the shift from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive farming.
(vasep.com.vn) Amid ongoing volatility in global seafood trade, Vietnam’s crab exports have made a fairly positive start to 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover in the first two months of 2026 reached nearly USD 55 million, up 24% compared to the same period in 2025 and more than 2.2 times higher than in the same period of 2024. This indicates that crab exports are entering 2026 with stronger growth momentum, particularly in Asian markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang City has fully implemented all recommendations from the European Commission (EC) regarding the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, creating an important foundation for the removal of the “yellow card” in the near future.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Hoa Vang district (Da Nang City), red tilapia farming is demonstrating clear economic efficiency, becoming a promising livelihood that helps many households increase their income. A notable example is the model of Mr. Huynh Ngoc Nam, who operates two red tilapia ponds covering more than 4 hectares, generating stable annual income.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Gia Vien district, tilapia farming—particularly the “duong nghiep” strain—is expanding rapidly and gradually becoming an efficient production model for local farmers. Hatcheries in the area are supplying high-quality, uniform, and disease-free fingerlings, meeting the growing demand for commercial farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
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