Fish farm expansion hearing postponed amid allegations against suspended fisheries director
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The Planning Authority on Thursday postponed a hearing on plans to double the number of tuna cages at a farm off Sikka l-Bajda, amid bribery allegations against suspended fisheries director Andreina Fenech Farrugia. Azzopardi Fisheries, which has not been linFish farm expansion hearing postponed amid allegations against suspended fisheries director
The Planning Authority on Thursday postponed a hearing on plans to double the number of tuna cages at a farm off Sikka l-Bajda, amid bribery allegations against suspended fisheries director Andreina Fenech Farrugia. Azzopardi Fisheries, which has not been linked to the scandal, had applied to increase its cages at the offshore site from 12 to 24, the company saying they will not hold any additional tuna but will ensure the fish have enough space to reach optimal size before harvesting. A decision was expected by the PA but the hearing was pulled from the agenda at the request of the executive chairman, according to a notice sent to interested parties, with no further explanation given. A parallel application by the Fisheries Department to set up a formal north aquaculture zone, filed by Dr Fenech Farrugia, is still being processed, with a public meeting on its environmental assessment held as scheduled on Tuesday. Dr Fenech Farrugia is facing allegations, which she denies, of demanding money off a Spanish tuna kingpin. The claims emerged on Monday from investigations forming part of an EU-wide probe into the illegal tuna trade. The decision to postpone the hearing was welcomed... Read more