ACT No. XIII of 2025 AN ACT to amend the Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, Cap. 425 and to provide for a fairer representation of the different kinds of fisheries on the Fisheries Board and to give effect to other amendments related to the same Board.

I assent.

(L.S.)

MYRIAM SPITERI DEBONO

President

23rd May, 2025

ACT No. XIII of 2025

AN ACT to amend the Fisheries Conservation and Management

Act, Cap. 425 and to provide for a fairer representation of the different

kinds of fisheries on the Fisheries Board and to give effect to other

amendments related to the same Board.

BE IT ENACTED by the President, by and with the advice and

consent of the House of Representatives, in this present Parliament

assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

(1) The short title of this Act is the Fisheries Conservation Short title and

and Management (Amendment) Act, 2025 and this Act shall be read commencement.

and construed as one with the Fisheries Conservation and Management Cap. 425.

Act, hereinafter referred to as the "principal Act".

(2) This Act shall come into force on such date or dates as the

Minister responsible for fisheries and aquaculture may by notice in the

Gazette establish, and different dates may be so established for

different provisions and, or purposes of this Act.

Article 5 of the principal Act shall be amended as follows

Amendment of

article 5 of the

principal Act.

(a) sub-article (2) thereof shall be substituted by the

following new sub-article

"(2) The Board shall consist of the following

members who shall be appointed by the Minister

(a) one (1) member from the department

responsible for fisheries, having a grade which is at

least equivalent to that of a Director in the public

service;

(b) one (1) member from the public entity

having responsibility for the enforcement of

environmental laws;

(c) one (1) member from the Armed Forces

of Malta;

(d)

one (1) member nominated from each

fishermen’s co-operative registered according to the

Co-Operative Societies Act and from each voluntary

organisation representing commercial fishermen on a

national level;

(e) one (1) member being a recreational

fisherman nominated by the Federazzjoni tas-Sajjieda

Dilettanti; and

(f) eight (8) other members being active

operators of vessels authorised according to this Act

to operate a fisheries vessel and falling in one of

these categories

(i) two (2) members operating fishing

vessels of less than twelve (12) metres length

which do not use towed gear;

(ii) two (2) members operating fishing

vessels of less than twelve (12) metres length

which are subject to a fishing quota for specific

fish;

(iii) one (1) member operating fishing

vessels of twelve (12) metres length or more

which use towed gear;

(iv) one (1) member operating fishing

vessles of twelve (12) metres length or more

which are subject to a fishing quota for specific

fish;

(v)

two (2) members operating fishing

vessels authorised to fish for lampuki with

kannizzati (fishing aggregating devices)

Provided that the eight (8) members shall

be appointed by the Minister after a call for expression

of interest amongst those fishermen who fall under

these categories

Provided further that at least one (1) of

such members shall be forty (40) years of age or less

Provided further that at least one (1) of

those members shall be of the female gender.";

(b) in the Maltese version only, in sub-article (6) thereof,

the word "Chairman" and the words "deputat chairman" shall be

substituted by the words "President" and "Viċi President"

respectively;

(c) sub-article (7) shall be substituted by the following

new sub-article

"(7) The Minister shall appoint a Chairman of the

Board from amongst persons having proficient knowledge,

competence and experience in the fisheries sector

Provided that the Board shall appoint a Deputy

Chairman and a secretary from amongst the members

appointed according to paragraphs (d) to (f) of sub-article

(2).".

Paragraph (c) of article 6 of the principal Act shall be deleted. Amendment of

article 6 of the

principal Act.

Sub-article (7) of article 30 of the principal Act shall be Amendment of

article 30 of the

principal Act.

Passed by the House of Representatives at Sitting No. 343 of the

19th May, 2025.

ANĠLU FARRUGIA

Speaker

ELEANOR SCERRI

Clerk of the House of Representatives

€0.54