Fishing should not be permitted close to wrecks scuttled for diving, according to Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech, but it is not clear if and when the government will take any steps to stamp out the practice.

Dr Zammit told The Times: "It is important that our dive sites are protected and that conflicting uses are managed and properly controlled. We cannot keep having a situation whereby new dive wrecks are scuttled at great expense and the fish they attract for the enjoyment of divers are caught by some unscrupulous fishermen.  

"Abroad, artificial reefs are sometimes sunk for fishing purposes. In such cases it is acceptable to allow fishing but not in our case, where the wrecks have been specifically sunk as diving attractions."

The Professional Diving Schools Association has long been calling for a protected area to be established around Malta's scuttled wrecks since divers constantly run the risk of becoming entangled in nets or injured by a spear gun.

Fishing is also depriving certain areas of marine life which is having a negative impact on dive-related tourism.

However, when asked if there were any plans by the government to put an end to the practice, Dr Zammit said: "This has been the objective for some years now but implementation is slower than one would prefer in such circumstances." It's certainly slower than the diving schools were hoping.

Simone Brinch-Iversen, a member of the Professional Diving Schools Association, said when contacted yesterday: "If a zone can be set up for swimmers, then surely it can be done for divers. Another wreck is due to be scuttled at Cirkewwa in June and we would like the authorities to establish perimeters around dive sites before the summer."

However, the minister said that although the tourism ministry "is in contact" on this issue with the environment ministry, action ultimately depended on "a number of factors" and the input of various agencies from fisheries to the armed forces and police.

"Proposals have been put forward even as part of environmental studies carried out for recent projects undertaken by the Malta Tourism Authority and the Ministry for Gozo, including the scuttling of dive wrecks and the formulation of the Diving Master Plan for Gozo. The issue of conflicting uses between diving and fishing has been addressed there; and a plan has been put together for implementation."

Dr Zammit pointed out that the government has embarked on several initiatives in support of the diving industry and will be scuttling more wrecks in the near future as well as upgrading facilities at Cirkewwa and installing closed circuit television at dive sites to improve security. However, Agnes Upton, who runs the Maltaqua dive centre in St Paul's Bay, believes the lack of regulation and care at dive sites is having an effect on business.

"Two years ago we were 20 per cent down and last year had not improved. We go all over Europe and spend thousands in advertising to promote diving in Malta but the authorities are doing little to help the situation," she said.