A new €4 million fish market in Marsa was inaugurated yesterday by the Prime Minister, replacing the 80-year-old pixkerija in Valletta.

The new facility is described as having been constructed to the highest EU standards, guaranteeing greater efficiency and hygiene.

In his opening address, Joseph Muscat noted that an unloading facility had to be built because the site, identified for the project by the PN administration, had no direct access to the sea.

Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes stressed that this investment needed to be complemented by an upward shift in mentality, standards and operations.

He said the project also meant that outdated practices which had been in place for decades were being replaced by an automated IT system.

The new fishery will also facilitate better product traceability and offer a more efficient payment system for fishermen.

The old fish market, situated on the water’s edge at Grand Harbour, may now be turned into a boutique hotel.