Duty-free diesel for fishermen

Fishermen will be able to buy duty-free diesel in the coming weeks after the government signs an agreement with fisheries co-operatives, Environment Minister George Pullicino said yesterday.

Mr Pullicino made the announcement during the official opening by the Prime Minister of the hard-standing facility in Marsaxlokk, which is also saving fishermen money.

The facility, which has been operating for a number of weeks, allows fishermen to hoist their boats and leave them 'on the hard' for mandatory drying and maintenance - a procedure that must be carried out twice a year.

National Fisheries Co-operative chairman Ray Bugeja described the €2 million project - which was mainly funded by the EU - as "a dream come true".

He explained that before the new facility was built, fishermen had to pay some Lm1,200 twice a year either to take their boats to Sicily or to a privately-owned local facility for dry standing, which is necessary to dry the boat's hull.

Mr Bugeja said fishermen were now making savings of 60 per cent. However, the cost was only part of the equation. "We have the peace of mind that, if our boats get damaged, we can hoist them up and carry out the necessary work," he said.

Two cranes have been installed in the area, which is providing 16 spaces for large boats.

The Prime Minister said the local fisheries sector had received more than Lm4 million in aid in the past five years. He said the €16.3 million proposed National Fishing Strategy would be focusing on new initiatives, including new investment in the aquaculture industry and building of new fish unloading facilities in seven ports.

EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg said the project was confirmation of how European funds could be used to develop the fisheries sector and bring about an improvement in fishermen's quality of life.