Slime hits southern bays again

The bays at Kalanka and St Peter’s Pool in Delimara were yesterday again filled with a slew of greasy slime locals are convinced emanates from the fish farms in the vicinity. Regular visitors to the area have observed there is a pattern as to when the slime appears. In the early hours of the morning, the beaches boast crystal clear blue waters. Yet, after feeding time at the fish farms, the slime starts to penetrate both beaches in the afternoon, depending on currents. This was confirmed following several visits to the area by the Times of Malta. Locals have given up on reporting the issue after several years of complaints, and even petitions, fell on deaf ears. Swimmers could be seen diving into the stinking foam rather than abandoning their favourite leisure spots. When this newspaper followed the issue last year, the Planning Authority had been reluctant in pointing to the source saying it was unknown. The slime stinks of fish and leaves a residue on the rocks. When this newspaper highlighted the problem two years ago, it resulted that a fish farm operating in Marsaxlokk had increased the number of cages from five to 18 without permits. This was confirmed by the planning...