Italian trawler caught fishing illegally off Malta

An Italian trawler was earlier today intercepted by an AFM patrol boat while it was illegally fishing within the Maltese fishing-zone. The AFM's Operations Centre was alerted to the presence of the Italian vessel whilst it was position, some 16...

An Italian trawler was earlier today intercepted by an AFM patrol boat while it was illegally fishing within the Maltese fishing-zone.

The AFM's Operations Centre was alerted to the presence of the Italian vessel whilst it was position, some 16 nautical miles in the South West of Malta.

An Air Wing Islander aircraft, which was airborne at the time, immediately located the trawler, ''Mamma Maria'', with fishing equipment deployed.

A patrol boat went to the area and the trawler crew was instructed to heave in all deployed fishing-gear and proceed to Grand Harbour.

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