The Lampuki fishing season formally opened yesterday with the blessing of boats by the parish priest of Masaxlokk, who went around the harbour on a colourful luzzu.

He was accompanied by Resources Minister George Pullicino.

The boats were ready to go, heavily laden with stone slabs used as weights for the nets, floats and palm fronds which provide shade under which the fish gather and get trapped in kannizzati nets.

The season continues up to December.

The catch rose by some 36% in the last quarter of last year, compared to the previous one, despite increased competition in international waters, particularly from Tunisian fishermen.

Lampuki, also known as dolphin fish or dorado, grow from pinhead-sized dots to three kilogrammes in six months. Experts last year reported that changes in sea temperature may be among the reasons for a marked shift in the lampuki's migratory route over these past few years. The Mediterranean eastern basin is getting warmer, forcing mature fish to seek cooler western waters, better suited to spawning.