The two Italian fishermen found fishing in Malta’s fisheries and conservation zone by the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) were yesterday fined over €9,300.
Brothers Mariano and Carlo Strano, from Catania, pleaded guilty to having illegally fished in Maltese waters and were fined €4658.75 each by the Magistrate’s Court.
Their catch of 21 swordfish was confiscated.
An AFM patrol boat found their boat Delfino in Malta’s 25-mile fisheries conservation zone 20 miles North of Gozo early yesterday. The fishing vessel was intercepted at about 2.25 p.m. when it was some 20 nautical miles north west of San Dmitri point, off Gozo. The fishing vessel, with its four-crew members, was escorted to Malta and handed over to the Fisheries Department and the police for further investigation.