The name of the biggest fisherman of all has been adopted by a charitable institution set up on the feast of saints Peter and Paul, Mnarja, last month.

Called Fondazzjoni San Pietru (St Peter Foundation), the charity is supported by most of the stakeholders in the fishing industry, namely full- and part-time fishermen, middlemen, fishmongers, importers and exporters.

The idea behind the foundation, with its marine connections, is to provide fish to those in need, particularly the Dar tal-Providenza, Dar tal-Kleru, Dar Merhba Bik and children's homes.

Before the foundation was officially set up, it had been laying the groundwork and with limited financial support managed to provide five tonnes of top quality fish - equivalent to about 30,000 portions - to a number of charities run by the Church.

A spokesman for the foundation said such homes - all of which are run on tight budgets - could ill afford to buy fish to vary their menu. The main aim behind the foundation is to buy cleaned, filleted and vacuum packed fish ready to be cooked.

The deed setting up the foundation was concluded after Mass was celebrated by Mgr Lawrence Gatt, director of the Dar tal-Providenza in the chapel of St Paul close to il-menqa in St Paul's Bay.

Its chairman is Tonio Spiteri while Charles Azzopardi of Azzopardi Fisheries is deputy chairman.