Bid to avoid Maltese-Tunisian fishermen clashes

The Maltese fishing authorities have written to their counterparts in Tunisia suggesting ways how clashes between fishermen from the two countries could be avoided.

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Ninu Zammit told parliament yesterday the letter was written by the director-general of fishing on August 23. Unfortunately, there had been no reply from Tunisia yet, the minister said.

The minister was replying to questions in parliament by Labour MP Noel Farrugia following complaints by Gozitan fishermen about clashes with Tunisian fishermen. Mr Farrugia warned that the clashes could escalate and even lead to fatalities.

Mr Zammit said fishing for lampuki took place between 40 and 90 miles southwest of Malta in international waters where everybody had a right to fish.

He said that on September 13 and 17 aircraft belonging to the Armed Forces of Malta were dispatched to the fishing grounds to assess the situation following calls for assistance by Gozitan fishermen.

Mr Zammit said Malta would continue to do all it could for both sides to agree a system to stop the clashes. To this end, Malta had offered to show the Tunisians how its fishermen operated, using kannizzati which stretched from seven to 50 miles off Malta into international waters. Better knowledge by Tunisian fishermen could eliminate the clashes, he added.

The Ghaqda Kooperattiva tas-Sajd has expressed solidarity with the National Fisheries Cooperative in its protests against the Tunisian fishermen.

It said it would join in any action launched by the cooperative.

The cooperative's secretary, Raymond Bugeja told a news conference at Mgarr harbour last week that Gozitan fishermen gave the government up to the end of this month to take up their request for assistance against Tunisian fishermen who, they say, are stealing their fish and destroying their property.

There were about 20 Gozitan vessels fishing 20 to 80 miles west of Malta, each carrying about six to eight fishermen.

Mr Bugeja said Tunisian fishermen were netting fish from under the Gozitans' floats which they were then vandalising and setting adrift. There were also instances where the Tunisians had driven their boats directly at the Gozitans.

Tunisian vessels often outnumbered the Gozitans by three to one, Mr Bugeja said, adding that these incidents had been going on for at least five years.