Boatmen Sound Alarm: Unregistered Group Steering Local Industry

In the heart of Marsamxett Harbour, where the sun-kissed masts of traditional Maltese luzzu bob gently, a storm is brewing. Local boatmen are up in arms, accusing an unregistered group of acting as the de facto regulator of their industry. The group, they claim, is dictating terms, issuing fines, and even threatening to blacklist those who refuse to comply.

An Uninvited Quartermaster

The unregistered group, known as the ‘Association of Maltese Boatmen’ (AMB), has been quietly gaining influence in recent years. They claim to represent the interests of boatmen, but many in the industry question their legitimacy and methods. The AMB has no official registration with the Maltese Registry of Societies, and its leadership remains a mystery to many.

Boatmen like Joe, a third-generation fisherman who prefers not to reveal his full name, are worried. “They started off small, asking us to contribute to ‘maintenance fees’ for the harbour. Now, they’re telling us how to run our boats, how much we should charge, even who we should hire,” he says, his weathered hands gripping the wheel of his luzzu, ‘Santa Maria’, as it bobs on the waves off Balluta Bay.

Navigating a Murky Watershed

The AMB’s rise to influence coincides with a period of significant change in the local boat industry. The government’s push for sustainable tourism has led to increased regulation, leaving boatmen feeling overwhelmed and underrepresented. Some see the AMB as a necessary evil, a voice for boatmen in the face of bureaucracy. Others, however, view it as a power grab by a select few.

Dr. Maria Azzopardi, a local sociologist specializing in maritime culture, sees the situation as a clash of traditions. “The boat industry has always been a tight-knit community, self-regulating in many ways. This new group is disrupting that balance, and it’s causing friction,” she explains from her office at the University of Malta.

Charting a Course Forward

Boatmen are now calling on the government to intervene, asking for clearer regulations and a more inclusive representation of their industry. They want to see the AMB held accountable, or better yet, disbanded and replaced by a properly registered, democratically elected association.

“We’re not against regulation,” says Joe, “but it should be fair, and it should come from us, the people who know the sea best. We need a voice, not a dictator.”

The Ministry of Tourism has acknowledged the concerns, promising to review the situation and engage with boatmen to find a solution. Meanwhile, the AMB has declined to comment, citing ‘ongoing discussions’ with boatmen.

As the sun sets over Marsamxett Harbour, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, the boatmen wait. They wait for clarity, for fairness, for a chance to steer their own industry. The future of Malta’s traditional boatmen hangs in the balance, and the tide could turn at any moment.