Marsaxlokk marks start of lampuki season with traditional blessing of fishing boats

Marsaxlokk marked the start of Malta’s lampuki (dorado) fishing season on Sunday with a traditional Mass and blessing for fishing boats, the Ministry for Agriculture and Fisheries said. The ceremony, led by Canon Roderick Baldacchino, is a longtime ritual for Malta’s fishing community and signals the beginning of a key period for Maltese and Gozitan fishermen. Agriculture Minister Anton Refalo attended with fishermen, families, representatives from the fishing sector, and members of the Marsaxlokk community. In the weeks before the season, boats are prepared with “kannizzati,” traditional fish-aggregating devices made using palm leaves, along with stones, palm leaves, and ropes positioned by the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture. The season opens on 15 August under European rules based on GFCM recommendations and runs until year-end.