The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Animal Rights together with the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Ministry of National Heritage, Arts and Local Government took over. an initiative to organize, for the first time, consultation meetings with amateur fishermen practicing traditional Mrejkba fishing.
Minister Refalo explained how “These meetings will be held with the aim of providing reassurance about this type of fishing. We will be launching a consultation with these fishermen to see how we can protect this fishery, with sustainability goals for today’s generation as well as future ones. This type of traditional fishing has been used for decades, so it is necessary to safeguard this fishing tradition that is also part of our identity. The government has a plan that it will be building together with the fishermen who are interested. We need to know more about the difficulties and needs of these fishermen to make this plan feasible and meaningful. “
“Our traditions are part of Maltese culture and help give us our identity. Reworking is an unpopular practice. I will support and assist Minister Refalo so that when it comes to regulating this type of fishing, we are safeguarding our culture, ”said Minister Herrera.
The Director of Fisheries within the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Dr Alicia Said spoke about the importance of safeguarding the maritime tradition of the rig, whose use began decades ago. “This type of fishing is most common with amateur fishermen who practice this hobby from various places around Malta and Gozo.” She explained how such hobbies together with other recreational fishing are important in order to give quality time and relaxation to the Maltese and Gozitan people, especially in a time of pandemic. It is therefore crucial to consult, in order to hear proposals from interested amateur fishermen, to finally ensure that this fishing takes place in a sustainable way.
