Court fines two Spanish captains €28,000 for illegal fishing

Two captains of a Spanish boat yesterday pleaded guilty to fishing in Maltese waters and were fined €28,000.

Antonio Hernandes Pastor and Ricardo Santiago Gago admitted to fishing illegally at about 5 a.m. on Monday and failing to declare about four tonnes of prawns.

The Cuidad de Cartegena was intercepted by the Armed Forces of Malta after being sighted by a patrol boat about 22 miles south-south-east of Malta. After instructing the fishermen to haul aboard their prawn fishing traps, the boat was escorted to Grand Harbour, the AFM said. Once berthed, the boat and its crew were handed over to the fisheries' authorities and the police to conduct their investigations.

Police Inspector Alfred Mallia, assisted by Senior Counsel to the Republic Donatella Frendo Dimech, prosecuted. Lawyers Ian Farrugia and Aaron Mifsud Bonnici were defence counsel.