Emergensea
Have you ever been stranded at sea? Experienced yacht owners know how quickly a minor inconvenience can escalate into a major problem, so it makes sense to consider what you would do if left drifting without power at sea.
Emergensea provides help and logistics at sea, with services including technical assistance and repairs, diver services, supply of parts and fuel, and towing. Use of the Emergensea services is possible either through a straight transaction, or via a membership package which entitles yacht owners to discounts or one free intervention annually against a modest annual fee.
Creek Developments Plc has a limited number of Start membership packages to give away, valued at EUR 50, which entitle users to a 15 % discount on any interventions.
If you would like to receive one of the free Start packages, send an email with your boat name and the subject line “Start Emergensea”
Fishery Regulations
Yacht owner Jovin Rausi was kind enough to share the following information received from Transport Malta regarding fishing at sea:
You can pass the information hereunder freely. As I have stated in my previous email, such reflects the current legislative framework and the policies of the Authority.
With respect to fishing. As stated quite rightly, all fishing issues do not fall within the remit of the Authority but that of the Fisheries Department. However, allow me to point out the following.
The Fishery Regulations (S.L. 425.01) states that the use of the following fishing implements and methods is permitted without any licence at all times and in all localities:
(i) all methods of hook and line fishing, including jigging with gulpara and ħiel;
(ii) the fish spear or grains;
(iii) the basket traps called drajna, nassi tal-granċ, nassi tal-qarnit, and nassi tal-imrejjen;
(iv) the small hand nets called kopp tal-gambli, kopp tal-wiċċ, kopp tal-laċċi, and kopp tal-lhud;
(v) all other minor and recognised fishing implements not otherwise specified in these Regulations, such as delfinara, ganċ, or gaffa.
The use of any fishing implement which is not mentioned above is subject to a licence from the Director of Fisheries
The Authority, including the undersigned, always interpreted the above as meaning that recreational vessels can be used for fishing through the use of these implements only. Any other implement necessitates a licence from the Fisheries Department. However, in recent meetings with the Fisheries Department, these contended that the interpretation is an erroneous one and all fishing should be subject to the Department’s approval and licences (where applicable). I never really understood why or their arguments.
There are vessels which are in possession of a Fishing Licence, being MFA, MFB, MFC and MFD. Furthermore, Fisheries have a Register for vessels under 6 metres in length, to my understanding most of which are MFC (non-commercial fishing, that is recreational). Fishing vessels over 6 metres in length must be registered under the Malta Flag Register.
In terms of the Fishing Vessels Regulations (S.L. 425.07), fishing vessels less than 6 metres shall not be allowed to carry out fishing activities or related activities beyond 12 nautical miles. This means that enforcement action will be taken against defaulting vessels. Also, there is a schedule with a list of minimum apparatus for safety and rescue to be kept at all times on board, divided by nautical miles.
