Activists free endangered bluefin tuna off Malta
Thursday 21 July, 2011, 13:45, by
The Black Fish has learned that activists damaged tuna pens in St. Pauls Bay, Malta, last night in an effort to free endangered bluefin tuna fish. It has been reported that a small number of fish managed to escape. We fully support this action and believe it shows there is a growing movement of people who are willing to take action for the threatened species.
Bluefin tuna fish circling inside a tuna fattening pen
Photo by Marco Carè/Marine Photobank
"While this is not an action taken by The Black Fish we want to voice our full support. This type of action is exactly what is needed to protect these species from the hands of corporations and politicians who are looking to making a quick buck now while the species is headed towards and extinction and may never recover from the immense industrial overfishing it is subjected to. Especially in Malta it is illegal bluefin tuna operations which account for much of the local export of the fish. It is about time something was done about these relentless poachers." according to Wietse van der Werf from The Black Fish.
Excerpt from original article from Malta Today:
Police called in to investigate damages caused last night to a tuna pen off St. Paul’s Bay, where an unidentified diver was alleged to have tore open cages in a bid to free the tuna.
Malta Today has learnt of the action via email which was sent in the name of ‘Animal Liberation Front’ (ALF), which said that "last night members of the ALF liberated Atlantic Bluefin Tuna by cutting the nets of so called ‘fattening pens’ off the coast of St. Paul's Bay."
"This species is on the brink of extinction and therefore we saw no other option to take action and free this highly endangered species. Animal Liberation!” the anonymous email - signed 'Jean Bobo' in its sender address - read.
The pens – belonging to Azzopardi Fisheries – reportedly sustained €100,000 in damages according to Azzopardi Fisheries, however no tuna escaped and the veracity of the action itself remains unconfirmed.
According to sources, the diver involved could have died during the action as evidence was found that he was caught in the same net he tried to tear.
Investigators found pieces of a wet suit and the knife used to tear the steel enforced ropes.
Contacted by MaltaToday, Charles Azzopardi from Azzopardi Fisheries expressed his disappointment at the action, and said that his company will definitely seek legal redress from the activists involved. "We are doing everything according to law and in close cooperation with fishing authorities," Azzopardi said. "We consider this as an act of terrorism," he stressed.
Further media articles: Tuna Pen off St Paul's Bay damaged in attempt to free fish - Maltese aquaculture producers condemn incident (Times of Malta)
