Who is eligible and how can payment be affected:

All Fishing Vessel Licences are valid for a period of one year according to the expiry date shown on the bottom left-hand corner of the fishing licence.

Any vessel registered with the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DFA) is eligible to apply for a renewal of the fishing licence.

Approximately one month prior the expiry date, as shown on the fishing licence, an invoice is sent to the fishing vessel owner indicating the amount that is to be paid.

Payment is to be affected either at any of the Bank of Valletta (BOV) branch offices around Malta and Gozo, or by the BOV Bill Payment Facility within three weeks from the date of the invoice.

Payment of licence renewal can be completed via the Malta Fisheries and Aquaculture Mobile App, by scanning the QR Code provided and following the payment instructions on the App.

(For more information on the use of the Malta Fisheries and Aquaculture Mobile App, please read further down.)

If payment is being affected through the BOV Mobile Banking App; the fee is to be directed to the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture as the entity.

The information to be entered as part of the process can be found on the front bottom part of the back page of the invoice, under the heading Bank Payment Details Information on alternative methods of payment.

Alternatively, when payments are conducted via other banks (i.e. other than BOV) then one is to follow and make use of the bank details that are provided on the bottom part of the back page of the invoice, also found under the heading: Information on alternative methods of payment.

Furthermore, in such cases, one is being reminded to provide the department with a copy of the transaction as proof of payment. This copy is to be sent by email to [email protected]

The back of the invoice contains further information which can become useful during the procedure.

Once payment has been affected by the vessel owner, the Fishing Vessel Register in a timely manner issues a renewed fishing licence which is either sent by normal mail post or on owner’s request can also be collected from the DFA’s main office in Għammieri.

Licence Renewal & Special Authorisation on the MAFA Mobile Application

Introduction

The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture offers the facility to both pay for the Annual Fishing Licence and to apply for specific Special Fishing Authorisations directly from the Malta Fisheries and Aquaculture Mobile application.

Annual Fishing Licence Renewal

To complete the payment for the annual fishing licence via the MAFA Mobile App:

• Open the Fishing Vessel Licence Renewal tab
• Allow access to Camera
• Scan the QR Code found on the front page of the Licence Invoice
• Make sure that the auto-filled details are correct, input email address and confirm
• Input Credit/Debit card details as instructed
• If payment goes through confirmation email will be received
• Licence will be sent to vessel owner’s registered address via post

Application for Special Authorisations

To apply for a specific Special Fishing Authorisation via the MAFA Mobile App:

• Select Fishing Vessel Category for which the Authorisation is to be issued. This is based on the vessel’s category:

Commercial: MFA, MFB

Recreational: MFC, S, VLT

• Select Special Authorisation based on vessel’s eligibility

Special Fishing Authorisations available on the MAFA Mobile App are as follows:

Commercial: Blue Fin Tuna, Albacore, Lampara, Dolphin Fish, Swordfish,
Tartarun, Trawling, Towing

Recreational: Blue Fin Tuna, Albacore, Dolphin Fish

In the case of Special Recreational Authorisation Applications Only:

• Required documents include Identity Card of the vessel owner and a valid certificate depending in which categoty the vessel is registered:

MFC – Valid Annual Fishing Licence
S – Valid Transport Malta Certificate
VLT – Valid Certificate of Malta Registry

• Input vessel and owner details as requested, and submit Application
• Payment in settlement of a Special Authorization can only be finalized once approval is received from Department of Fisheries & Aquaculture.
• Once Application is approved by the DFA and payment is affected, the Special Authorisation will be sent to the owner directly via email.

If application is declined, a notifying email will be received by the applicant informing him the reason why the Application was declined.