Aquaculture Strategy for the Maltese Islands, Towards Sustainability 2014-2025.

The Aquaculture Strategy for the Maltese Islands is a national sectoral strategy of Malta for the period 2014-2025. It presents the Government’s strategic direction for the future of the aquaculture industry in Malta.
The strategy focuses on seven important areas: • Aquaculture as an important maritime sector: the Maltese aquaculture industry is entirely dependent on marine resources. • Steering growth towards sustainability: in this respect this strategy recognizes four main pillars of development: 1) improved regulation; 2) improved operation; 3) improved environmental monitoring, and 4) enhanced innovation. • Clarity in regulation: as an economic activity aquaculture has a horizontal dimension in terms of policy impact. Consequently, aquaculture as a sector is governed by different regulations. • Appropriate locations for Aquaculture Zones: at present in Malta there are six (6) aquaculture farms operating from nine (9) sites. The rest of the farms have been permitted through a rigorous development planning process which assessed potential impacts with other land and maritime uses to reduce conflicts and required the undertaking of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Such farms are also subject to regular environmental monitoring. • New Potential for growth – search areas: whilst the size limitations of the Maltese Islands do not favour land-based fattening installations, the existence of a relatively larger maritime space favours offshore marine installations. • Sustainability through Improved environmental management: improving aquaculture farm operations will lead to increased efficiency and profitability of those farms that adhere to the principles of best practice and comply with the conditions of their operating consents, thus ensuring no nuisance is caused to other coastal users. • Competitiveness through innovation: research and development, human resource development, fish product diversification and improving the image of aquaculture are all priorities for aquaculture progress in Malta. The role of the Government will be to provide an enabling environment towards this pursuit to improve the sector’s competitiveness at a national and regional level.
The time line for its implementation is outlined in Annex I. An interim review is envisaged after not less than 5 years from its adoption so as to account for new technical, regulatory as well as economic developments in the sector, as necessary and relevant.