Overview

• Hundreds of anglers have landed more than ten tonnes of escaped farmed sea bass along a ten-kilometre stretch south of Zygi over the past week
• Local angling shops report running out of rods, reels and bait as recreational fishing pressure shows no signs of abating
• Some hobby fishers are selling their catch illegally at dumping prices of €2–€3 per kilo, provoking complaints from professional fishermen
• The Zygi fish farm has suffered estimated losses of around €500,000 and regulators face scrutiny over catch limits and enforcement
• Marine biologists warn that the sudden influx of farmed sea bass may upset the Mediterranean food web, though long-term ecological impacts remain uncertain