During a visit to the Viticulture Centre in Buskett, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Animal Rights Anton Refalo announced financial aid amounting to €125,000 for farmers who experienced significant production losses of the two indigenous Maltese grape varieties, Girgentina and Ġellewża.

These grape varieties are well adapted to the local climate; however, there are times when weather conditions negatively impact their production.

The agriculture Department within the Ministry is offering financial assistance to affected farmers.

Minister Anton Refalo stated that through such schemes, the government is providing direct support to farmers to compensate for financial losses caused by these extraordinary conditions.

“We are committed to further investment and work at the Viticulture Centre to provide better resources for grape farmers and to continue strengthening research and innovation in the sector,” Minister Refalo concluded.

He that this investment not only helps sustain farmers but also contributes to preserving Malta’s agricultural heritage

During this visit, Minister Refalo was accompanied by the Director General for Rural Affairs, Saviour Debono Grech, Agriculture Director Marco Dimech, and Chief Agricultural Officer Darren Borg.

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In a press release from the parliamentary secretariat for fisheries, aquaculture and animal rights. The Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Animal Rights, Alicia Bugeja Said, announced a new project aimed at diversifying fish species in Maltese aquaculture.

This initiative focused on the introduction of two species: the Red Porgy (Pagrus pagrus) and the Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili).

The project, supported by European funding, was executed by Aquatic Resources Malta at the San Luċjan Tower laboratory.

Parliamentary Secretary Bugeja Said expressed satisfaction with the work undertaken by Aquatic Resources Malta, emphasising that this project represented an important step forward for Malta’s aquaculture industry. She explained that the initiative aimed to strengthen resilience and innovation within the sector, focusing on areas such as fish reproduction, breeding, nutrition, and health.

“This project demonstrated Malta’s ongoing commitment to maintaining aquaculture as a sustainable, innovative, and future-ready industry. The work carried out not only prepared the sector for global competition but also ensured that Malta remained among the countries investing in advanced research for fish production using more efficient and sustainable methods,” said Parliamentary Secretary Bugeja Said.

The CEO of Aquatic Resources Malta, Dr. Frank Fabri, provided further details, explaining that the project began with a call for interest directed at MFA and MFB fishers. Those who participated were asked to collect samples of Red Porgy and Greater Amberjack between September and October 2024.

These samples were placed in quarantine until they reached the appropriate size, after which they were transferred to specialised tanks.

Dr. Fabri stated that the ultimate goal of this project was to complete the full reproductive cycle of these species in local aquaculture facilities. This involved obtaining fish eggs, raising larvae, and successfully breeding fish for sustainable farming.

“As part of this initiative, a market study was also conducted to identify and acquire specialized equipment that enhanced the capacity of laboratories and fish breeding facilities. This investment ensured the long-term sustainability of this innovative project,” concluded Dr. Frank Fabri.

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