As part of its 40th anniversary cultural programme, Din l-Art Helwa is launching a unique exhibition on Malta's Fishing Heritage at the historic Mamo Tower, the 17th century fortified country home near Marsascala.

The exhibition has been sponsored by APS Bank and will present a vast collection of historic material connected with traditional the fishing industry, old methods and techniques, tools and implements used by Malta's fishermen over the centuries and a large number of photographs of life at sea.

On display are various models of old fishing boats and illustrative panels will allow the visitor an insight into the art of building these traditional sea-faring crafts. Amongst the curiosities is a collection of pots (nases), fish nets (xbieki) and other implements such as (kannizzati) and (konzijiet).

Research material regarding Malta's fishing industry is a major part of this exhibition. There are archives regarding the life of Giuseppe Despott who was the first Superintendent of Fisheries, studies about the legal history of the industry, descriptions of various fishing methods used in the past as well as the history of the marketing and the sale of fish. An illustrative panel graphically traces the quantity and catches of popular fish from 1947 till today.

The exhibition has been prepared by historian Stanley Farrugia Randon, who has been a council member and volunteer for Din L-Art Helwa for the last twelve years. Dr Farrugia Randon, besides being an amateur fisherman himself, has been conducting research on the history of fishing since the age of fifteen and has published various books on the subject.

Martin Galea, Executive Chairman of Din L-Art Helwa said how grateful the society was for the generous sponsorship from APS Bank who made the exhibition possible. He was also particularly appreciative of the fact that it has taken many years of research and painstaking work on the part of Stanley Farrugia Randon to build up this vast collection which was so important for Malta and he was very grateful that he has made it possible, through Din l-Art Helwa, to make it accessible to the public. The educational value of such work was of enormous importance to our island and to the appreciation and better understanding of all local tradition connected to our sea.

Alfred Triganza, senior manager marketing APS Bank said that the bank has adopted a tangible commitment to culture and other important social issues. "From an entrapreneurship point of view APS Bank believes that it has an important role to play by investing back into society the confidence and the trust allowed to it by its ever increasing customer base."

He continued: "From music, to Maltese literature, youth development and sport, these are just some of the partnerships we have been building and this new venture with Din l-Art Helwa is another initiative we are proud to be sponsoring."