Fishermen faced by distress and extra costs – PL

Opposition spokesman Tony Agius Decelis said that St Paul’s Bay’s fishermen have to dock at Marfa as the landing officers who count the fish brought in have been ordered to change their waiting point.

Addressing the fishermen involved at the Veċċa Pier, Agius Decelis recalled how government had promised the fishermen that the landing officers would be available from their locality as from August 1. The Labour MP added that government was taking the fishermen for a ride.

“All these shortcomings are taking their toll on the fishermen’s health. They are wasting more than an hour and half in their trip to return back from Marfa,” he said, adding that this was not only to the detriment of the fish but also to the fishermen’s health.

“It is also increasing their costs,” Agius Decelis said.

He criticised the lack of facilities at the pier: “The pier has long been abandoned by the authorities and notwithstanding the number of reports made; it all fell on deaf ears.”

Agius Decelis added that government will be increasing Marsaxlokk’s hard-standing facilities from €600 for four weeks to €1,750.

At the end of the conference, the fishermen were contacted by the National Cooperative for Fishing. It informed them that the landing officer will start operating from St Paul’s Bay as from today. However, fishermen who tried to dock at St Paul’s Bay were sent back to Marfa as the landing officers had not been notified of the change.