The master of an Italian fishing vessel was fined €20,000 after admitting to fishing illegally in Maltese waters. 

Leone Gassi, 47, from Foggia, was arraigned before Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras charged with fishing in Maltese waters without the necessary licence, failing to advise the authorities with the fish on board his vessel prior to entering the territorial waters, sailing without monitoring equipment, preventing the authorities from carrying out their duties and refusing to comply with their orders.

Lawyer Edric Micallef Figallo, representing the Fisheries Department, said 800 kilograms of fish was found on board the MV Leone. Approximately 150 kilograms of them were caught in Maltese waters. 

Mr Gassi’s lawyer, Roberto Montalto, told the court that he had reached an agreement with the department that only the fish would be confiscated rather than the vessel and all the fishing equipment on board.

Dr Micallef Figallo confirmed this, saying that the department would be satisfied with a fine and the confiscation of all the fish found on board. 

Magistrate Galea Sciberras, therefore, fined the fisherman €20,000 and ordered that the vessel be only released after the fine would have been paid in full. She also ordered that if the fine was not paid within 30 days, the vessel would also be confiscated. 

Police Inspector Priscilla Caruana prosecuted. 

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