The Marsaxlokk Artisanal Fishers (MAF) association filed a judicial protest requesting an immediate stop to the "blatant and abusive discrimination being perpetuated in regard of its members". The MAF is made up of artisanal fishermen who fish in a traditional and sustainable manner.
The MAF was set up according to law to protect the rights of small-scale-low-impact fishermen as opposed to large scale and industrial fishing operations. All its members are registered according to law and should benefit from Energy Taxation Directive 2003/96/EC which allows for certain exemptions of tax on fuels used for navigation in fishing.
In a press release issued this morning, it said that members of the MAF association were arbitrarily informed that they would no longer receive this exemption unless they joined another fishing co-operative. This sudden withholding of an exemption which is accorded to all fishermen is grossly discriminatory and breaches the right to freedom of association, the MAF claimed.
It only serves to put small scale traditional fishermen out of their job. The MAF called upon the authorities to reverse their unjustified decision. The Judicial protest was filed against the Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Agriculture Roderick Galdes, the Director General of Fisheries Dr. Andreina Fenech Farrugia, Transport Minister Joe Mizzi and the Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. It was signed by Dr. Claire Bonello
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2rTqZn5
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