Sicilian fishermen claim Malta’s interconnector is ‘dangerous’

Sicilian fishermen are threatening to take legal action against Italian Energy firm ENI after claiming that the Malta-Sicily interconnector project has negatively affected the local fishing industry.

The seafarers based in the entire coastal strip running from Pozzallo to Scoglitti, are arguing that the submarine cable was not buried in the seabed as agreed in the contract.

“The cable is not buried in the seabed as was promised. Vessels sailing and fishing in that stretch of sea before reaching the Maltese territorial waters are facing considerable difficulties. They risk intersecting the interconnector while doing their job,” a fisherman said in a press conference held earlier this week.

The conference was attended by representatives from Italian political party ‘Forza Italia’, local councils and fishing cooperatives in the region among others.

On behalf of around 40 fishing boat owners, fisherman Nino Nicosia cautioned the parastatal energy company to remedy the situation within 15 days. He said that failure to do so will result in legal action asking for compensation for the “drastic reduction of fishing stock in the area”.

“It is evident the work carried out was not professionally done,” the fishermen representative remarked.

Malta already agreed to pay the Ragusa council around half a million euro in financial compensation, after the council initially opposed the project citing environmental concerns. Another €600,000 were paid to Ragusa.
The 100km interconnector spans from Qalet Marku in Malta to the Marina di Ragusa in Sicily, from where it will then connect to a substation through another 25km of underground cables.