At a news conference in Mellieha, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Animal Rights Anton Refalo announced that for the third consecutive year the government together with the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture will be helping the fisheries sector with national funds.
Minister Anton Refalo said that this is a scheme through which fishermen will be benefiting from a maximum of € 2,700 in funds after having carried out the necessary maintenance on traditional fishing vessels.
In last year’s scheme 90 fishermen who benefited from an investment of just over €100,000. There are 247 vessels eligible for this scheme this year. These vessels are all made of wood and operated before 2007. Maltese and Gozitan fishermen incur various costs, such as paint, wood and other raw materials. All this is eligible expenditure under this scheme.
“Through this investment, we will be ensuring that we continue to see these types of vessels as part of the Maltese fishing fleet. More fishermen should seize this opportunity and submit their application to the Department of Fisheries for their benefit as well. Such schemes clearly show that this is a government for the people. “
Applications for this scheme are expected to open in April 2021, so that in November the Department of Fisheries will start receiving tax receipts of the expenses incurred.
