Fish farm operators band together for fishmeal factory that promises to eliminate ‘sea slime’

Fish farm waste may be eliminated from Maltese seas thanks to a new facility being developed by three major industry players which will be recycling tuna farming waste that is normally thrown out.

During a visit to the plant being built in Ħal Far by Minister for Economy, European Funds and Lands Silvio Schembri, he said that the project is a clear example of where the country wants to go in future projects.

“Thanks to this project,” he said, “not only will a new industry be created, generating economy growth, but waste will also be recycled into new products, in line with our goals for a circular economy.”

Minister Schembri explained that three leading aquaculture operators had come together and come up with this new project while will see tuna waste being collected and turned into feed and oil to be used for animal and fish feed, instead of being dumped in the sea.

The operators are also planning to store other fish used as feed for the tuna pens in a purpose-built cold storage facility. This fish would also be prepared for consumption on-site, before being taken out to sea, eliminating the oily residues the feed leaves behind. These residues often end up close to shore, with bathers reporting the sticky ‘sea slime’ in several coastal areas around the Maltese Islands in recent years.

This project, the Minister said, was made possible by the Government industrial parks agency, INDIS, which provided the land for the facility, which will cost an estimated €11 million.

Charlon Gouder, a former ONE TV reporter who became a Government advisor on fisheries before resigning to take on a lobbying role as CEO of the Federation for Maltese Aquaculture Producers, spoke about the project on behalf of Aquaculture Resources Ltd, the company behind the initiative.

Dr Gouder highlighted the prestige the Maltese tuna industry has, both locally and internationally, and explained that the industry will continue working to embrace the circular economy concept.

Aquaculture Resources Ltd is owned by major fish farming players AJD Tuna Ltd, Fish and Fish Ltd, and MFF Limited.