A traditional scene could be witnessed in Marsaxlokk on Tuesday night, as the locality’s parish priest Fr Luke Seguna blessed fishermen’s vessels prior to the opening of the lampuki fishing season. 

The tradition is done every year in the hope of bringing a good season for fishermen. 

Fishermen across Malta and Gozo in this period are preparing their fishing trellis with palm leaves, a technique which is the most used by Maltese fishermen and which was developed by themselves to catch Lampuki which typically swim close to the surface of deep waters and seek shade from the palm fronds. 

The Lampuki season opens on 15 August and continues until the end of the year. 

Presently, boats and ships are loaded with trellis’ and stones, with palms and buoys so that they can be set in accordance with the positions provided to them by the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture. 

There are over 90 fishermen registered for Lampuki fishing in Malta and Gozo, and they generally place their trellis’ in such a manner so that at the end of the week they gather up the buoys and have their first catch of the year. 

In a statement, the Agriculture and Fisheries ministry said that these traditions are tied to Malta’s culture and identify, and that the work of Maltese and Gozitan fishermen should be appreciated not just during the fishing seasons but throughout the year. 

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Animal Rights Anton Refalo was present for the ceremony.