Italian fishing vessel caught fishing in Maltese conservation zone

Yesterday at 7.35pm, the AFM's Offshore Patrol Vessel P51 was on routine patrol when the crew noted a foreign fishing vessel in a position 20.5 nautical miles from San Dimitri Point, Gozo.

The vessel, subsequently identified as the Italian fishing vessel Sparviero, was suspected of being engaged in long-line fishing for swordfish within the Maltese Fisheries Conservation and Management Zone and was boarded by a team from P51.

The boarding team found evidence that the vessel had indeed been engaged in fishing activities and it was decided that the Sparviero would be escorted to Malta for further investigation.

P51 escorted the Italian fishing vessel to the Grand Harbour where she berthed this morning at 6.30a.m. at Boiler Wharf.

The case was subsequently handed over to officials from the Fisheries Control Division and the Malta Police for further investigation.