Federation Meeting with Fisheries Board Sub Committee for new Sport/Recreational

[Gogo]

Yes, we are doing our best to remove this policy.
In  our opinion we cannot plan a holistic set of  regulations unless all vessels opting for fishing have the opportunity to participate.
Gogo

[lazyfisherman]

Gogo

Till now all S-registered vessels have always been allowed to fish with certain types of gear. Is this right going to be retained in the future?

It is good to point out that there are many very small boats with small engines (less than 9.9 hp) or even without engines that are regularly used for recreational fishing with rod or handlines (typically bottom fishing) in harbours and/or just a few hundreds of meters offshore. Most of these are S registered boats and include most traditional frejgatini which have always been used for fishing. Are these S-registered tiny boats going to be forced to move up to MFC to keep on fishing? Or are they going to be given the option to keep on fishing with their S-registration (Perhaps with more restricted, strictly recreational gear e.g. rods and/or handlines only)?

Moving up to MFC would imply a large increase in registration renewal fees for such boats which are typically used by pensioners and the less well off. Boats with engines less than 9.9 hp presently pay 10 Euro for a 5 year registration renewal. Moving up to MFC would take that figure up to 305 euro (61 euro per year x 5).   

[Gogo]

Dear lazyfisherman,

You just mentioned the anomaly which has been troubling the Authorities for nearly the past two decades.
It all started when MMA took over boat licenses from the Police Licenses Act Cap 128 of 1997 and Fisheries department recognized that there is a growing  recreational fishing fleet. Unfortunately there never was liason between the Fisheries Dept and MMA and the result finished that there are fishing boats in two separate different registers.
Please note that 12 foot fregatini (as the one I had 55 years ago) fish by all types of  gears even nets. I myself used to venture on the Lampuki Fads. The catches were superb. Jolly good old days.
"Are these S-registered tiny boats going to be forced to move up to MFC to keep on fishing? Or are they going to be given the option to keep on fishing with their S-registration (Perhaps with more restricted, strictly recreational gear e.g. rods and/or handlines only)?"
For sure there are no fishing restrictions different from those of other MFC. That is no nets and surface longlines for Tuna,swordfish and alungi. All other now permitted impliments are allowed. Remember that there are similar MFA and MFB small boats occupied in commercial fishing.
The annual renewal fee with TM SSR will remain as it is. However the Authorities envisage that all fishing boats should have a fishing license. The annual fee for boats under 5.99 metres is €23.29.
I cannot understand from where you got the €61. Maybe you mixed it with the annual renewal fee of the TM Merchant Act. This does not apply for fregatini because they cannot venture beyond the territorial waters.


Gogo

[lazyfisherman]

Thanks for the detailed explanation and clarification gogo. Much obliged. Yes, I am sorry that I inadvertently mixed up the fee with that of the larger MFC boats that are licenced with TM to venture outside territorial waters.

Then am I right in assuming that all S-registered boats that want to keep on fishing will be allowed to register as MFC (or whatever new category there might be)?

Thanks once again

[Gogo]

Lazyfisherman "Then am I right in assuming that all S-registered boats that want to keep on fishing will be allowed to register as MFC (or whatever new category there might be)?"[/color]

Yes, that is the stand of the Federation that if a MFC licenses is obligatory for fishing then all those that opt to fish are entitled  for the license. We cannot leave any body out including those of the 100HP outboards.

Gogo

[busumark]

Does any one knows who came up with or the reason why the 100 hp limit

[Gogo]

busumark "Does any one knows who came up with or the reason why the 100 hp limit"

Yes.  Kindly either give me your email or email your request to dr.carabott@marcompmalta.com

Gogo

[The_Gaffer]

A very interesting read indeed!

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121212/local/drag-net-fishermen-gather-in-grand-harbour-plan-protest.449303

[redhead]

First I would like to thank everybody for the effort that is being done to safeguard our hobby. We might have different opinions but we should all have the same aim

Secondly I would like to ask a simple question for which I expect a simple answer. I have a 22ft offshore fishing boat with a 225HP outboard engine. Currently it is registered as S and I know I can only travel up to 12km offshore with this boat. I however have the option to change the registration to Valletta. As far as I know it is impossible for me to register for an MFC because the outboard is a 225Hp. But as far as I know, currently it is perfecly legal for me to use my boat for recreational fishing even if I don't have the MFC. Will anything change? Will I still be able to use this boat for fishing (I can undertand that I may have to pay for a fishing licence)?

[caldaland]

gaffer,this is what i wrote on december 08.
                        "I have been informed that all trawlers have been suspended from fishing.The reason for this is that they were caught using smaller sized mesh.NEEDLESS TO SAY,THEY WERE NOT CAUGHT BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES BUT BY E.U. INSPECTORS.
THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE TOO BUSY DISCUSSING RECREATIONAL FISHERMEN!
                                    WHAT A FARCE!"

[Gogo]

Dear redhead,
"But as far as I know, currently it is perfecly legal for me to use my boat for recreational fishing even if I don't have the MFC"

The question lies in your statement. Just turn it into a question "Is it perfectly legal?" This is embarrassing for the Authorities.
You are registered with TM SSR and  eventually can navigate in territorial waters and if you change to Merchant Act Valletta you can navigate in International waters. The question arises, can you fish?  Your boat is not registered as a fishing boat.
According to Fisheries Subsidiary Legislation 425.07
Article 8(a) There shall be kept a Fishing Vessels Register  by the Director.
Article 8(b) these shall be identified in the fishing Register various categories of fishing vessels:
                 A. Commercial Full-time
                 B. Commercial Part-time
                 C. Non commercial Recreational
                 D. Work boats.
So the Fisheries Department caters for all fishing activity including recreational fishing.

One asks how can FCD contol vessels which are not Fishing boats and practice fishing in a similar way as registered Fishing recreational boats do?

The other query is whether article two of the 1934 law re gears without a license as line and hook etc..  in contrast with other licensesed gears as nets etc..., is referred to Registered Fishing vessels or a free for all activity.

If one argues for a free for all activity then all MFC licenses are redundant. However the Valletta registration as a pleasure boat will then be € 200 for all, out board or in board engines for any HP. Also how will the AFM identify these vessels between simple pleasure boats from those that practice fishing. I hope not by boarding all 'S' boats at sea.Also TM does not have any law provision on fishing.

If one argues  for an MFC license then all those already registered with TM that intend to fish must be registered with FCD and Fisheries regulations.
At the moment this is been intensely discussed between FCD, TM and Federation representative.

Gogo

[busumark]

busumark "Does any one knows who came up with or the reason why the 100 hp limit"

Yes.  Kindly either give me your email or email your request to dr.carabott@marcompmalta.com

Gogo

Gogo I posted the question on the forum so I would expect the answer to be posted on the forum. Is it possible ? Can it be that someone made a statement to the authorities about the recreational fisherman and the authorities gave in to their pressure without doing any verification or consultation to our detriment. If someone breaks the law they should enforce the law and not take the easy way out.
besides what is the reasoning that with inboards you can exceed 100 hp and outboards no. Both boats can have high speeds so if the speed of the boat is the problem it does not make sense. Could it be that they gave MFC to inboards over 100 hp is that there were a lot of PTF with inboards over 100 hp that did not want to change to MFB so they gave them MFC

[Gogo]

Busumark "Gogo I posted the question on the forum so I would expect the answer to be posted on the forum. Is it possible"

Dear Busumark,
This thread turned into a good discussion and as the answer for your question in my opinion  does not alter anything against or in favour of recreational fishing, I prefered to answer privately avoiding possible posts which will deviate from the aim of this thread.
Look this was implimented many years ago because MMA fees were so high that many high powered vessels  with outboard engines ( speed boats as pleasure crafts ) were trying to register vessels with the fisheries department where fees were much less. The initial registration with SSR for over 150 HP was LM 500 (Maltese Liri). Now these fees have been drastically reduced to €50. Nothing to do with changes from PTF to MFB or MFC.
At the time high HP with outboards was a prerogative of pleasure crafts. Outboards and Z drives were not permitted on Fishing vessels. With the advent of recreational fishing vessels a  HP capped at 100 HP outboards were permitted. Note that MFB and MFA cannot have outboard engines of any power.
I hope that this clears your doubts. We are still firm on removing this ban. However it is not a simply task to persuade Authority officials.

Gogo     

[redhead]

Thanks for your answer Gogo. My point is that I have no problem paying a fishing licence, be it MFC or anything else. I, however, find it extremly discriminating if they draft a law which would make it impossible for any outboard (over 100HP) powered boat to fish (recriational fishing not commercial).

Anyone into boating knows well that today's outboard motors are greener and more economical than most inboards. All major recreational fishing boats built nowadays carry outboard motors anywhere in the world. I hope this will not be a case of only in Malta.

Can anyone justify why inboard yes and outboard no in 2013?

I also think that to discrimnate between one type of motor or another would be illegal by EU terms as this would lead to unfair trade competition between competing marine motor manufacturers. Whoever is proposing this discrimination should name another place in the world were outboard powered boats cannot fish!

[The_Gaffer]

I hope that this clears your doubts. We are still firm on removing this ban. However it is not a simply task to persuade Authority officials.

Gogo     


I fully support this statement.  There were (I qualify were as there still might be) a number of very high powered business people who own what one could clasify as super yachts, and not normal fishing vessels, and these vessels were registered as PTF, yes, you read right, registered with fisheries as PTF.  This was done to recieve rebates on VAT paid when buying engines, diesel, and any other expensive equipment.  Il-huta minn rasa tinten Dott!!