14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 AUGUST 2020
PHOTO BY CLODAGH O'NEILL/DOI
EYEWITNESS
Blessed be
thy boat
The traditional ceremony of the blessing of
fishing boats takes place just off Marsaxlokk's
pjazza as fishermen and onlookers gathered
during the August season, as they get ready
to depart for the annual lampuki fishing
season.
During the ceremony, which was attended by
Minister for Fishing Anton Refalo and led by
Marsaxlokk archpriest Dun Luke Seguna, the
traditional luzzu and other fishing ships were
blessed in hopes of having a good fishing
season.
God and Caesar always come together in this
typical ritual: while the Catholic influence
of the town's parish priest gives form to
this important fishing season, the role of
politicians is crucial to the industry. Lampuki
fishers are part of an industry that is often
hampered by conflict on the high seas with
foreign poachers, for which no political
solution has yet been given. MaltaToday has
previously documented the problems faced
by these fishers against Tunisian poachers.
