Legal Framework 

Under the local (S.L.425.01) and EU fishing regulations: 

1. There is no closed season for octopus in Malta. 

2. Recreational fishermen may use hand collection, hook-and-line, or a short spear without a license when fishing from the shore. 

3. Commercial pot fishing requires a license from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture. 

4. There is no minimum size of Octopus that can be caught.

Practical Recommendations 

There are many things one can do to protect this species 

Observe a closed season (ideally May–August) for all types of octopus fishing and consumption. During this period octopus are reproducing and the female looks after their eggs without ever leaving her den not even to eat. Removing a brooding female eliminates not only her but also up to 200,000 potential baby octopus. Remove discarded fishing pots as they continue to catch octopus and other fish indiscriminately. Release any octopus under 750 g. Support the introduction of a national quota of Octopus caught. Reduce demand for octopus by consuming less regularly. Protect the areas which are known as breeding grounds Report illegal activities. If you see young juvenile specimen being caught, illegal fishing methods, fishing in protected areas or other suspicious activity, report it to the authorities (Malta Sea Ranger Unit, ERA or Fisheries Dept) 

Conclusion: 

With relatively modest changes such a seasonal closure, size limitations, and moderated demand — this remarkable animal can strive again in local waters. It is in everyone interest, including that of fishermen, that a growing population is allowed to prosper around the Maltese islands. 

Description

The John Dory is characterized by a very slim body with long spines on its dorsal fin and a large dark spot on each side, known as an “eye spot” or ocellus. This "eye spot" serves as a defense mechanism to confuse predators. Other fish are tricked into thinking the spot is the eye of a significantly larger animal, allowing the John Dory to avoid danger. Known also as 'St. Peter’s Fish,' the tradition has it that the spots on the sides are the thumbprint of Saint Peter when he caught the fish on Jesus’ instructions. The beauty of traditions! The fish also has a highly extendable jaw that allows it to catch prey. Its extremely thin body allows it to approach prey unnoticed. Its mouth then extends forward forming a tube allowing it to suck in prey. Its diet consists primarily of small fish like sardines and anchovies, but also squid, cuttlefish, and various crustaceans. 

It grows to a maximum size of 65 cm and a max weight of 5 kg. with a typical lifespan of 12 years When John Dories are three or four years of age, they are ready to reproduce by releasing sperm and eggs into the water to fertilize. 

Habitat 

In the Mediterranean, Zeus Faber is typically found on the continental shelf at depths of 50 to 150 metres, though it can go down to depths of 400 metres. It is common across the entire Mediterranean sea. Recent increases in sea temperatures is seeing the species propagate in the Black Sea. 

Around the Maltese Islands the John Dory is seen mainly see by divers in water 25 metres and deeper with most sightings occurring in the wintertime. These sightings are more likely in the South parts of the island (e.g. Wied iz Zurrieq) but occasionally also off the south coast of Gozo (e.g. Ras il Hobz) . Divers from shore tend to see smaller specimens of ca 10 to 20 cm length but specimens of up to 50 cm are not outright rare by the coast. 

Further out at sea, sightings of full grown larger specimen have been reported on Historical Deep Wrecks declared as Archaeological Conservation zones at sea managed by the Underwater Cultural Unit within heritage Malta. Fishing within range of the latter sited and close to artificial reefs like the Um el Faroud is restricted and/ or outright banned through the various notices to mariners. 

Fisheries and Conservation Status 

No large-scale studies have been carried out on the conservation status of this species. While the John Dory is not usually the primary target of industrial fishing, it is a high-value "by-catch" in Mediterranean bottom-trawling operations. Recent Studies indicate smaller numbers are being caught in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea meaning a much smaller John Dory population and concern is now growing that this species is facing conservation concerns. These concerns are further exacerbated by the fish's slow growth rate and a late age of maturity. Lets hope we are graced by the presence of such a unique fish for the years to come. 

So let’s look away from the sea first and consider light. The light from the sun is white. Thanks to Sir Isaac Newton, way back in the year 1665 – that’s 360 years ago, we have come to know that it actually consists of all the colours of the rainbow. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Imagine a delicious rainbow cake covered in white cream, once cut, each slice uncovers multiple layers each with a different colour. 

Each colour making white light has a different wave length with red having the longest and violet, the shortest. As light enters a large volume of water, the colours with the longest wavelength are absorbed (not reflected back to us) by the water first. Colours with shorter wavelength such as blue, are reflected back from deeper waters making the sea look blue. So this explains why while in shallow waters we can see the colourful rocky seabed yet as one dives deeper and deeper all the colours seem to fade away. 

Only with a torch light can the vibrancy of the underwater mosaic become visible to us. The ocean’s absorption of different wavelengths of light is the main reason why the deeper sea has a blue colour As the sea continues to get deeper and deeper even the blue light in white light is absorbed in the water column making the sea look black. 

Another factor that influences the colour of the sea is the material one finds floating in the water column. If water has a lot of plankton because the sea is rich in nutrients like in the Atlantic then the sea tends to look green. If there is a river mouth then there is a tendency for the water to be the colour of the debris (soil, leaves, litter) that the river brings into the sea. 

Although different geographic locations and what is present in the water both influence the final colour we see, the overall colour of the sea is influenced by the absorption of the different fractions of natural light that is visible to us. 

Perhaps that is why planet Earth is called the Blue Planet!