A pilot project has been launched so that traditional boat fishing can be practiced again in the Maltese and Gozitan islands. This pilot project was launched by the Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Animal Rights Alicia Bugeja Said.
This pilot project was announced after consultation meetings with different stakeholders, primarily with fishermen and concerned entities. In fact, a holistic plan has been prepared that includes all the aspects and necessary information so that the fishermen have peace of mind while they are going with the fishing of the boats.
The meetings clearly showed that there are still many recreational fishermen who are interested in continuing to practice this hobby. The government listened to the fishermen and drew up a concrete plan to keep this tradition alive, as well as to practice it in a correct and regularized way.
The Director of Fisheries within the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Gilbert Balzan explained that the definition of the word “mrejka” is traditional and recreational fishing.
This type of traditional fishing was actually created by Maltese and Gozitan recreational fishermen and has been used for decades. Mr. Balzan explained that this fishing has a triangle shape made of reeds, plastic pipes, logs, wood or plastic bottles resting on stilts. The boat is in the shape of a triangle to cut through the water and keep moving forward. In the center of the triangle there is a mast with a brightly colored sail and marked with the identification number.
Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said explained that this project will give the opportunity to hundreds of amateur fishermen who wish to fish with this traditional method, and it will be ensured that this is done in a sustainable way through measures which were reached together with the recreational fishermen.
She claimed that with this project, the government is listening to the call of local fishermen, while the same project shows with facts how much recreational fishermen believe in sustainable fishing.
The pilot project includes specially allocated places where one can go fishing and also where one can equip his boat with the amount of hooks as established. All this is explained in the logbook provided to the fisherman when he goes to register with the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture to practice this fishing. Through the logbook, information will be collected on the capture of the species, in honor of the principle of sustainability.
For more information, call the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture on 2292 6876.
