Charged with illegal fishing

A Sicilian fisherman was denied bail yesterday after being charged with illegally catching about €400 worth of fish in Maltese waters.

Captain Etienne Scicluna testified he despatched a small surveillance plane to investigate after he received a call that a boat was fishing illegally 18 nautical miles off Delimara. The plane took pictures, that were produced as evidence in court, showing the Maria Salvatrice, captained by 48-year-old Rosolino Paternostro, with its trawling equipment allegedly in operation. After the plane reported that the vessel was actually fishing, the captain sailed out to the location on a patrol boat to apprehend the offender and bring the trawler to shore.

When the plane flew past the boat, the vessel was doing between three and four knots but when the patrol boat spotted it and was within two nautical miles, the trawler increased speed to between nine and 10 knots, Capt. Scicluna testified.

On deck were small fish and seabed debris, the officer said. Police Inspector James Grech testified that the boat was carrying 22 boxes of various types of fresh fish including octopus, which was still alive, adding that the fish was sold for €392.

He said the accused had been granted police bail and was living on his boat since Monday but since the investigations had been concluded he decided to arraign him under arrest.

Magistrate Lawrence Quintano denied bail.

Lawyers Emanuel Mallia, José Herrera, Veronique Dalli and Arthur Azzopardi appeared for the fisherman.