A shocking post uploaded to Facebook by Red Electrick keyboardist Aleandro Spiteri Monsigneur alleges how he and his friend’s boat was intentionally and recklessly capsized by an Azzopardi Fisheries trawler. The post states how the two men decided to fish close to a series of fish farms run by Azzopardi Fisheries. They were initially approached by a trawler whose crew asked them to relocate.
Monsigneur alleges that they accepted the request without issue. Relocating roughly 30 metres away, they were joined in the same area by 25 other small fishing boats. From there, the duo spotted a bigger trawler approaching. They saw that the trawler ‘clearly’ planned to pass them by. Due to this, they did not move the boat, but this had unforeseen negative consequences.
The trawler did not sound any horn or wave at the the two fishermen, instead deciding to allegedly ram the boat, capsizing it and throwing all the boys’ belongings into the sea to drown (phones, wallets, keys, camera, etc). The post states how should the trawler have asked them to relocate, they would not have objected.
The matter was further worsened when the trawler’s captain Jordan Cutajar allegedly blamed them for being in the spot and demanded they do not return. The trawler did not help the young men and sailed on, to the shock and disbelief of the two and other 25 boats.
Monsigneur highlights how he later came to discover how fishing within a certain radius of a private fish farm is not allowed. This rule is allegedly broken by various fishermen due to ‘the severely depleted fish populations, which automatically make fish farm areas a hotspot for fishing due to the high concentrations of nutrients available to external fish.’
Monsigneur however openly condemns the reaction by the trawler’s crew, stating that this does not provide the excuse to ram and capsize a boat, potentially injuring or killing anyone on it. The writer also reveals how this is not the first time this has happened as the other fishermen alleged to Monsigneur and his friend.
He concludes his post by stating that this is not a ‘pity post’ but rather a revelation as to what happens to independent fishermen who suffer at the expense of major corporations like, in this alleged case, Azzopardi Fisheries. He states that independent fishermen suffer when people buy and support giant corporations and that to support local one must not support such local corporations which ‘bully and hijack’ the practice and industry.
This newsroom has contacted Azzopardi Fisheries to inquire about the incident. This is a developing story.
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Photo Source: Aleandro Spiteri Monsigneur FB