Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1163844
7 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 8 SEPTEMBER 2019 NEWS These lines mark the angles at which Maltese and Gozitan fishermen lay out their floating 'kannizzati', which are used to attract the dolphin fish The fishers are requesting drastic action from the au- thorities. "We have been forgotten. The Maltese authorities should talk to their authori- ties and let them know about what is happening out there. If nothing is solved we should go to the European Commis- sion," they said, venting their frustration. Fishers are running out of options and they fear being driven out of the industry. "Are we done? Have we become irrelevant to the government? They always say they will do something about it, but one season after another, nothing is getting fixed and the situation is get- ting worse," the fishers said. Fishing parliament secre- tary Clint Camilleri said this situation has been happen- ing for years. "This is a problem that we know about, and a couple of days ago we discussed the matter with the AFM, to de- termine different possibili- ties on how we can protect the fishers," Camilleri said. "The reality is that up to 25 miles out, within the Mal- tese fishing zone, the AFM can intervene, and we have a memorandum of under- standing as a secretariat with the army on the protec- tion of Maltese fishers, but there's only so much we can do in international waters," Camilleri added. He said the government has considered taking the is- sue to the General Fisheries Commission for the Medi- terranean (GFCM), the body in charge of fishing in the Mediterranean Sea. "This is something that has to be dealt with in that fo- rum, as the AFM cannot in- tervene in international wa- ters in the name of Maltese fishers, and only there can the issue be resolved with the Tunisian authorities," he said. kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt How Lampuki are caught Lampuki fishermen spend the off-season preparing the apparatus called 'cimi'. Cimi are a palm tree branch knotted with a floating jablo raft, which is then anchored to the seabed. Lampuki proceed to seek shade under the large palm leaf. Cimi are set at an angle of coordinates determined by a lottery system before each season begins. The first float is dropped at a distance of around 8 miles from Malta's coastline, while the last one is at a distance of around 100 miles. The fishermen proceed from one float to another, encircling the resting fish with a large net, which is dragged towards the boat, entrapping the fish in the process. Their worst nightmare: a Maltese fisher's radar reveals boats placing themselves onto the fishing lines they have laid out to catch their lampuki. But the fishermen fear that if they confront the Tunisian thieves, the 'Bin Laden' gets called in to ram them out of the way