Hi everyone,
I want to share this new "experience" with all of you. My parents have recently moved to Malta where my dad will be working for the next 4-5 years. They moved all of our stuff from Italy: furniture, clothes, pc,... and upon my pressing request, all of my fishing equipment (a lot). Among the fishing equipment that was put in the container, was my SEAC SUB ARROW 55 (nearly a toy for all of you experienced apnea divers). They didn't know it was considered a weapon and just shoved it among the various rods...
When I finally reached them here in Sliema for 3 weeks of vacation my hands were "itchy" and I really wanted to go and explore this magic coast as soon as possible. Having read here in the forum that I needed a license for the speargun, I proceeded to call police HQ in Floriana. Here is the result: the police officer went "ballistic" when I told him I needed a license for a gun I already possesed and that was already here in Sliema: "illegal posession of firearm". He told me I had to bring the gun immediately to police HQ (it sounded like otherwise he was coming to my house). And, of course, I did. I would like to point out that I was just trying to respect the local laws, otherwise I wouldn't have called them... no? Anyways, the gun was confiscated from me and I was told that I need to wait 2-3 weeks (yes!!), before I can get it back with a proper license. Moral of the story: maybe next year I will be able to do some spearfishing... ahahahaha
My question is: if most tourists tend to stay for 1-2 weeks, I guess coming to Malta to practice this wonderful sport, is out of the question? My personal advice is to try and contact the police MONTHS in advance.... and whatever you do, DECLARE that you are going to import a gun at the customs ;D !!!
I have read various polemics about illegal fishing with scubadiving gear here on the forum: I hope the police is as EFFICIENT as they were with my confiscation!!! ::)
P.s. I was at the Blue Grotto in front of Fifla on Friday, and a massive fishing vessel was trolling right there in front of everybody (didn't have my camera otherwise I would have had some wonderful video).
I am a Biologist, I love the sea! Let's all respect it. But the sea is of everybody, remember!
My nickname is Tracina, not by chance, and I am not letting this one go this "easy"! I am a tenacious little S.O.A.B. ;)
Ciao a tutti
Tracina
I think they did what you asked for! You must have taken any precautions before bringing the gun with you. Another thing is why don't you go and practice spearfishing in your country!!!!! >:( You have much more fish there than we have!
Quote from: wahx on August 10, 2009, 12:07:50 CET
Another thing is why don't you go and practice spearfishing in your country!!!!! >:( You have much more fish there than we have!
For the same reason that a lot of Maltese fishing enthusiasts go to fish in Lampedusa, Sicly, Ingland and anywhere else in the world for the fun of fishing new grounds and having new experiances. you are more than welcome Tracina
well said fisheye.... don't forget Australia, America and Mauritius amoungst many others....
wahx is back as usual.....
Please translate
Flopinjioni tieghi iva ahjar ma jigux jaqbdu hut aktar minn hawn. fpajjizi ohra emm hafna aktar hut minn hawn! il biza tieghi hi li minn jigi minn barra u jaqbad ilhut jerga jigi. dawn qed jamlu hsara billi jaqdbu hut millbahar tana u ibihhuh lir ristoranti lokali. darba wied ilghajn rajt daghjsa bxeba hrapan. dawn kienu kolla barranin, taljani biex najd issew. dawn kellom dajsa mimlija dnieci griebel u crien kolla mdaqqsa. ma nahsibx li ser johduom mahhom l-italja jien. wara skoprejt li ibihhuhom lirristoranti. jien minalija ma tistax tbihh hut li jinqabad bilharpun. wisq aktar millbarranin!
naf li ili ma nikteb imma jien qed niprova nipprotegi dak li hu tana. minn imur sperfishing barra imur ghal kompetizzjoni!
did you report this illeagal fishing to the authorities ??
i agree with you that its illeagal to sell any fish caught by harpoon, but there are differant ways and means to tell a marine biologist who is coming to live here!!!! I'm sure he knows how to respect our marine life.... more than ourselves who are still catching undersized fish and small octopus and squid etc etc etc........
u leeeeeeee.... this is why we never seem to progress,,,, My opinion is that you do not mess with laws... each country has it's own laws and EVERYONE espescially if you are a visitor must follow these. Once you are within the laws.. then you are welcome to enjoy and participate in your hobby and do the hell you like with your catch (so long as it is legal!)... as obviously we know that when we are abroad we expect the same treatment
Anyone in here thinks he will go to UK or any other place and expects anything different? Of course the police is duty bound to inform you that you are infringing the laws.... at least he was reasonable. Whether it is a good thing to wait for two weeks for your license / permit is another matter .. however... there would laways be embedded reasons.. (criminal records etc).
THANK YOU FISHEYE and ROBBY017
I just wanted to tell an anecdote that was funny (at least for me), and didn't mean to create havoc. Stevea, you are right too: "ignorance is not an excuse in front of the law"... In fact, I handed the police my speargun and am happy to have respected the law. During these days I have been limiting myself to admiring the wonderful underwater life of your island. By the way Wahx, I really don't think there are more fish in Italy... Unless you are referring to those places where only rich people can go to. OR ARE PROTECTED.
Fisheye and Robby017: thank you again for the support. It is easy to tell people with broader scopes and culture ; )
at least in malta u only need a cheap license, but try to go to croatia spearfishing and see how much does it costs there... unbelievable...
u ghal; biegh tal hut, mux ahjar kulhadd jara tieghu??? jien qatt ma bieghhejt hut, pero naf hafna li jghawgu l ligi.... :-\ :-X
u wahx jin int ma nafx x taghmel int lol.... ma tantx fadal minn dawk il qabdiet ta wied il ghajn..... u naf x jien nghid flimkien ma hafna minn shabi... griebel sbieh ili ma nara zmien.... crien 2 ghandi f mohhi f post immaginabbli u perikoluz u anqas imishom, ghax jien cerna ta 8kgs zgur mhux ha naqbada ghax mux ha nikola.... anqas biss tidhol fil forn.. u huta bhal dik mux ha tqattaha ghax trid tkun skarpan ta veru biex taghmel hekk
Quote from: Tracina on August 10, 2009, 14:10:48 CET
I just wanted to tell an anecdote that was funny (at least for me), and didn't mean to create havoc. Stevea, you are right too: "ignorance is not an excuse in front of the law"... In fact, I handed the police my speargun and am happy to have respected the law. During these days I have been limiting myself to admiring the wonderful underwater life of your island. By the way Wahx, I really don't think there are more fish in Italy... Unless you are referring to those places where only rich people can go to. OR ARE PROTECTED.
Fisheye and Robby017: thank you again for the support. It is easy to tell people with broader scopes and culture ; )
there is no more fish in italy cause u catch every bloody living thing in your sea for money so some of u come here for such thing. if u came on holiday I dont c it as a bad thing to practice spearfishing but can u do the same in your country keeping in mind its not a competition (that is a sport)
wahx...where did you get your nick from?
I really wish the only problem with my country was "over-spearfishing"... I respect the sea and come home empty-handed most of the time. I really think the major problem is pollution and COMMERCIAL over fishing, even though you are right; there are lots of idiots around!
I guess Italian fisherman come here to fish? Commercially?
Wahx, your way of addressing people is tactless and disrespectful!
Who are you to generalise and address an individual saying "there is no more fish in italy cause u catch every bloody living thing in your sea"?
And who is this "u"? tracina? Italian recreational fishermen in general? Tracina is only responsible for his actions and not that of others who may or may not respect the law. And I am sure that many Italian recreational fishermen have huge respect for the sea.
Whether you like it or not, a tourist has every right to fish here, obviously following local rules just as we can fish in other countries after obtaining any necessary permits etc. Welcome tracina. Enjoy your stay and your fishing when your speargun permit finally arrives
lazyfisherman... well said...end of story
lazyfisherman, thank you. I hope to become friends with all of you! Spearfishing is a passion we share and that should bring us together! Grazie.
Wahx has a PhD in winding people up and his way of addressing people is probably reflective of how he is as a person!
If he breaks the forum rules (which in this thread he hasn't) his posts will be deleted and he will receive a 1 week ban like any other member would....although if it's a member's first time they get a warning. Wahx has already had all the warnings he's going to get. He is free to express his opinions however extreme they are, so long as he abides by the rules.
There's no such thing as your fish or my fish Wahx.....Tracina has moved out to Malta and will now be living here and once he has paid for his spearfishing licence he is free to fish like everyone else is.....plenty of people go with their boats to Italian waters and happily fish away.
wahx, mhux ahjar turina xi ritratt ta xi huta li qbadt ha nghidulek prosit....
Quote from: Tracina on August 10, 2009, 15:04:27 CET
I hope to become friends with all of you! Spearfishing is a passion we share and that should bring us together! Grazie.
There is going to be a Bar-B-que for members if you want to join in it will be a nice opportunity to get to now each other. hope to see you there
Please translate
jien ma nistax nifhimkom. mela meta jigu barranin jistadu u hawn minnom li jigu lpixkerija jittrakkaw malmoll lihemm . dawn filaxija tarom jitfaw xbieki u hadd ma jkellimom. imbad m barranin li jinzlu jikkacjaw biccilindri u perswaz li hawn membri talforum li jafu li jezistu nies bhal dawn u forsi gieli rawom u qatt ma tkellmu jew izommu kollox aliom. issa jien mux qed najd li ma jistax jipprattika ddelizzju tieghu malta imma leewl jigu lmaltin u mux imbad jiehdu lkunfidenza u jaqbdu kull ma jigi u jbieghuh.
possibli qatt ma rajt xi pjaneta mare intom u tosservaw kemm jaqbdu kollox ittaljani jew xi programm simili.
kieku ma jkunx m camera xjamlu!
issa jekk tridu amlulu translation littaljan imma jien ma rridx inkompli nizzikah. ahna lmaltin ekk konna u ekk nibqaw nilaqu lbarrani!!!!
U ta lahhar possibli filforum kollu mhawn hadd jaqbel mieghi?!?!!?!?!!?!
Wahx you are making a big sweeping generalisation! You haven't even met Tracina yet you have already labelled him and decided what he is like as a person, just because he is a foreigner. I don't know you mate but if this is what you do with everyone in life you won't get very far. I guarantee you that many Maltese (your fellow countrymen) are 10x worse!
Be at cause my friend and when you see people whether they are locals or foreigners doing the things you described, report them and follow it up. Here in Malta we like to complain but we don't take any action.
Any kind of illegal fishing should be condemned and punishable by law no matter who does it or whether it is done by foreigners or by local fishermen or anyone else. But you can't just take the first person you meet and blame him for all the wrong doing being done by the true culprits around the rest of the world. Ps, this has nothing to do with accommodating or not foreigners but it is a matter of judging only on assumptions, which is wrong.
The least you could do is to write in english so at least he could understand what you said and answer you back.
Wahx i side by you in some of your argument but that's not the way to address your arguments!
relax man! it's fishing time
^^^ :)
Quote from: skip on August 10, 2009, 15:05:11 CET
Wahx has a PhD in winding people up and his way of addressing people is probably reflective of how he is as a person!
He has a PhD in talking bulls**t too! Wow a double graduate!! My hats off to you sir! ::)
If people,irrespective of their nationality,are fishing illegally then report it!!
But to lay some claim to the fish or the sea just because you are maltese is nuts!!!
If someone comes here to live,work & pay taxes and has the nessesary license then they have as much right as you,me and everyone else to fish...Duh!
In fact the only reason i bothered posting & typing all this out is i have a bit of carpal tunnel from to much spinning/jigging yesterday and i need to exercise my fingers... :D;D cos otherwise its a total waste of time trying to reason with some people who's minds are as empty as a hermits address book!
ok then my apologies for hurting your feelings all of u. i'll keep my opinions for myself then! u know this is a damn forum and not all of u against me. u shoud have commented on my opinios not attack me. so i quit for now.
Quote from: wahx on August 10, 2009, 22:10:20 CET
ok then my apologies for hurting your feelings all of u. i'll keep my opinions for myself then! u know this is a damn forum and not all of u against me. u shoud have commented on my opinios not attack me.so i quit for now.
Yeah unfortunately for you mate however, one is in fact synonymous with the other! On account of your inspired opinions and delightful educated manner... ::) and actually we did comment on your opinions!..its just that its not what you wanted to hear i think?!
Even though your opinions do range (as usual) from biased & incoherent to down-right malicious slander...now you have racist babble to add as well...well done!
Quote from: wahx on August 10, 2009, 22:10:20 CET
so i quit for now.
Here nobody is "against" anyone,mainly because we aren't 4yrs old & this isn't play school mate!
However if you come on here,after god knows how long,and decide the first thing you should do is to post some slanderous crap aimed at a tourist/visitor to malta & then launch yourself into a rant,blaming this person for all the short-comings of their entire country (in YOUR own warped opinion at least) not to mention our own,i have to ask a question...What in the hell did you expect???!!!! ???
Cos if you were expecting a 'well done' then please do quit for now. ::)
Well said Martin 8)
I think if everyone has the same opinion wahx, there has to be something wrong with your comments. You should firstly answer the person in english please, if you want him to understand something, and I beleive that that is a rule of this forum.
Secondly welcome on board tracina.
You and all the others are more than welcome to attend the bbq on the mainpage..
It will be fun..
Tracina you did the right thing by abiding the law, but I'm a bit sceptical how your liscence will arrive in two/three weeks :p (I waited ages for mine). Regarding spearfishing in our waters, knowing that you have the ethical behaviour of a marine biologist, I'm sure you won't have any problems in keeping in line with the law. Last week I was spearfishing in Ragusa Sicily and although I did not encounter as much fish as I did in Siracusa(while snorkelling) I still managed to catch a Sarago and Barracuda (A two kg aj also got off my spear). I'm sure that if I went to the right places I would have found more fish, as I was diving in depths of up to 10 meters.
My point is, that the experience and opportunity of fishing in another place was soo pleasent that it is unimaginable to describe. The accessability to such an opportunity (Without any hassel of documentation etc) made the experience more memorable which makes me consider going to the country again.
Tracina, I wish you can have the same experience here.
Thank you all, you are ALL welcome to my country, Wahx included. I hope you can have great emotions like Markcam had! Me, I am just a "beginner" of this sport (only 4-5 years that I try). So far I am loving your sea, not only the macroscopic lifeforms, but also the microscopic ones. I saw some wonderful nudibranchs the other day. While I wait for the license, I am exploring the coast and finding interesting spots where I can only dream to encounter something worth shooting at. But it's a few days I am sick (40 C fever & ended up in Mater Dei). So far I haven't been lucky this summer... I got an infection after going snorkeling behind the Mediterraneo Water Park... The water looked ok... does anyone know if it's polluted there? I saw signs saying "no swimming zone" further on in the following bay... Are there any other "known" places I should avoid as soon as I get better? Thanx
do not swim there, there is our greatest mountain in malta, maghtab, a stockpile of highly polluting rubbish :-\ :-\ :-\
Once I went spearfishing near Radisson and I got an ear infection from there too. So avoid that area man.
And b.t.w. welcome on board Tracina.
Tracina sorry to hear that you are sick.
If I may suggest a snorkelling place with loads to see and loads of divers near by is Cirkewwa.
One can enjoy himself at -8 first mini reef, -12 reef, -20 reef, -30 sandy bottom, -48 reef (suitable only on twin sets and for the most most experienced.)
I have seen people snorkelling in the area and freediving normally up to the -12 or -18 point(madonna).
Only go there if you feel comfortable and the mentioned depths.
BDW it is the mostpopular diving spot on the island and best dived early morning or late evening.
All you have to do is going to the depow and ask for the one in charge. This is a thing that can be done even in 1 day. Last year some friends of mine came here with all the spearguns and staff. They told the duty officers at the airport and released some papers. In the meantime they had arrange with their embassy and they new about the thing. We gave the papers at 4pm at at 10am they had the spearguns in their hands.
A good thing to do is to arrange with the embassy before coming to Malta so can have a spearfishing license together with the `to carry`.
The important thing is that the one in charge is present in the office. I can say good words about him cos he helped us a lot and gave us accent service (even calling us on the mobile to confirm that the papers where ready).
Regards Wahx, cannot comment on you. First of all you should had report them if they where doing illegal and not coming here and pointing fingers to one or to the other, second: I dive nearly every day and its true that we see fish but from seeing to catching it there s a big difference and don t come and tell me that people come here to catch fish illegal or come in the port showing them like that. Also to go to certain depths remember that they must do the decompression and cannot fish for long in certain depths, so how much fish they could have had? If you was saying just 2-3 fish that's a thing but coming in the port with groupers and dentex is another thing.
If its illegal pls report them cos then they are doing the illegal thing...
by the way... WELL COME WITH US Tracna and care about the diving places where to go. It is suggested to go on the west side of Malta
you guys are tops!!! I actually love this forum; there is always someone ready to give good advice. As soon as I am better I will definetly check out Cirkewwa... will also keep away from the Radisson Hotel area... I am feeling a bit better (even though I am following a strict "mediterranean diet" of antibiotics). Maybe tonight I will spend a few hours with my old "bolognese" rod "cooling off" in Sliema Creek.
To EmicMalta; you are right: the one in charge of the weapons office is a nice guy... he is the one who initially told me he would try to speed things up... unfotunately, it's a few days that he's on leave (don't blame him... it's nearly the 15th of August). I don't know exactly at what stage my papers are, but tomorrow I will give them another call, they are always very kind and don't seem to mind my harassment ; ) I will also try and contact my embassy. Let's hear if they have any suggestions. Thank you.
Quote from: Tracina on August 12, 2009, 19:20:31 CET
you guys are tops!!! I actually love this forum; there is always someone ready to give good advice. As soon as I am better I will definetly check out Cirkewwa... will also keep away from the Radisson Hotel area...
Tracina, Cirkewwa is a nice place for diving, but in case you don't know, be aware that there's a part (around the tug boat Rozi wreck) in which spearfishing is illegal. So keep it in mind to avoid trouble again with the police. ;)
And welcome on the forum Tracina
Welcome Tracina to this wonderful forum. I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot of help over here. Dive safe. Catch ya later.
guys, the long story is finally over... the police gave me back my speargun. With license to carry and use it. Yaaaahooooooo!
well done, good result, nice to have a happy ending ;D ;D ;D
any pics of ur catch are welcome
Hi everybody,
i will come in Malta for holidays around end of September.
Please can you give me advices for having a license for my speargun before coming there?
Is there a website for obteining it, communicating to police or similar informations?
Thank you very much for your help
Quote from: antoganci on September 09, 2012, 20:02:07 CET
Hi everybody,
i will come in Malta for holidays around end of September.
Please can you give me advices for having a license for my speargun before coming there?
Is there a website for obteining it, communicating to police or similar informations?
Thank you very much for your help
You can try calling the Weapons Section of the Malta Police Force:
+356 2294 2110
+356 2294 2111
a speargun,knife,crossbow,airgun and a nuclear warhead,all have the same hassle!
Quote from: FREEDIVE on September 09, 2012, 22:41:10 CET
I hope youre only joking :(
Why joking? I just asked informations..
Quote from: caldaland on September 10, 2012, 09:37:28 CET
a speargun,knife,crossbow,airgun and a nuclear warhead,all have the same hassle!
I know speargun have some hassle, but there is no solution for using in legal way??
I can't believe it..
Quote from: skip on September 10, 2012, 01:22:29 CET
Quote from: antoganci on September 09, 2012, 20:02:07 CET
Hi everybody,
i will come in Malta for holidays around end of September.
Please can you give me advices for having a license for my speargun before coming there?
Is there a website for obteining it, communicating to police or similar informations?
Thank you very much for your help
You can try calling the Weapons Section of the Malta Police Force:
+356 2294 2110
+356 2294 2111
Hi skip, Thank you very much for you answer,
could you give me some "serious" advices about this argument?
Is really impossible, for a not resident in Malta as me, fishing in apnea with speargun
in legal way with permit, as others writing?
Thanks
To aquire a Permit you have to get an application from the speargun seller or contact the Police General head quaters and ask there . Once you submit your application and everything needed in PERSON it will take nearly 30 days or more days for the permit and you may be asked to report at a Police station to answer some questions. so if you are planning to stay here for a couple of days it is impossible to a get a permit.
Quote from: ggantno1 on September 10, 2012, 20:19:37 CET
To aquire a Permit you have to get an application from the speargun seller or contact the Police General head quaters and ask there . Once you submit your application and everything needed in PERSON it will take nearly 30 days or more days for the permit and you may be asked to report at a Police station to answer some questions. so if you are planning to stay here for a couple of days it is impossible to a get a permit.
Ok thanks,
i found this on internet, even if it seems for fireweapons with specific license..
http://mjha.gov.mt/page.aspx?pageid=155
What do you think about?
Why dont you contact the police head quaters and ask there I think that is the best thing you can do !!!! contact no 21224001
Quote from: ggantno1 on September 12, 2012, 19:38:50 CET
Why dont you contact the police head quaters and ask there I think that is the best thing you can do !!!! contact no 21224001
probabli qed jiprova jirranga minbarra min malta bhal ezempju min l italja qabel ma jigi hawn Malta
ahjar icempel hemm hux .