Karl Stagno Navarra
The captain and crew of a Sicilian fishing boat are to be arraigned in Court this morning, accused of having illegally fished in Maltese waters.
An Armed Forces patrol boat reportedly intercepted the ‘Maria Salvatrice’ of Porto Palo while trying to flee from Hurd’s Bank, approximately 20 miles east of Malta.
Sources have told this paper that the Maria Salvatrice wasn’t the only fishing boat in the area at the time the Maltese patrol boat sped to inspect what was happening. Witnesses said that “at least” five Italian fishing boats were spotted and were also monitored by satellite and radar.
Allegedly the fishing boats cut their nets and headed out back into Italian waters as soon as the Maltese patrol boat arrived.
When the Maria Salvatrice was intercepted, an AFM boarding crew reportedly discovered some 100 kilos of fresh fish, and ordered the captain to steer towards the Grand Harbour for investigation.
The incident is being widely reported on the Italian media, with the Mayor of the fishing village of Porto Palo claiming that the fishing boat was not conducting any illegal activity and was merely transiting the waters.
Informed sources have told this paper that the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs Franco Frattini telephoned Maltese Home Affairs minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici for explanations, while Italian ambassador to Malta Paolo Trabalza had talks with Foreign Minister Tonio Borg about the matter.
While the captain of the Maria Salvatrice has denied fishing in Maltese waters, stating that the seized fish were caught before they entered Maltese waters, the Italian ambassador has called on the Maltese authorities to be “certain” about their allegations, and any lack of evidence should go towards the release of the fishing boat, it’s crew and cargo.
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