Alicia Bugeja Said attends EU Fisheries Ministers’ Council in Brussels

The Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Animal Rights, Alicia Bugeja Said, participated in the European Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers in Brussels. The meeting discussed various topics related to the sustainability of the sectors, fishing quotas in the Mediterranean for 2025, as well as agricultural aid to address current challenges.

During her intervention, Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said emphasised the importance of recognising and rewarding the sacrifices Maltese and Gozitan fishers have been making for years. “We must provide greater support to our fishers, who face numerous challenges daily to earn their livelihood. As a government, we have launched several measures to assist local fishers and will continue to implement various initiatives to ensure a more sustainable sector,” Bugeja Said stated.

She also highlighted the need for stricter controls in the Mediterranean Sea to ensure compliance with regulations, particularly by non-EU countries. Furthermore, the Parliamentary Secretary stressed the importance of conducting further studies to potentially increase fish catch quotas for fishers.

“As a country, we are insisting on increasing quotas because scientific studies and data clearly show that current fishing practices are sustainable and do not harm fish populations. This is evident in species like tuna and dolphinfish, among others, which are two of the most popular types of fish in our country,” Bugeja Said added.

The Council of Ministers also discussed the agricultural sector, where Malta advocated its position. Malta emphasized the need for greater flexibility in the Strategic Plans of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and in State Aid regulations. Additionally, Malta called for the allocation of funds not only during times of crisis but also as a preventive measure to address challenges linked to climate change, including droughts and floods.