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

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

Lawyer Edric Micallef Figallo, representing the Fisheries Department, said on board the MV Leone were 800 kilograms of fish, including about 150 kilograms that were were caught in Maltese waters.

Mr Gassi’s lawyer, Roberto Montalto, told the court he had reached an agreement with the department that it would only be the fish that would be confiscated and not the vessel and the fishing equipment on board. Dr Micallef Figallo confirmed, saying the department would be satisfied with a fine and the confiscation of the fish on board.

Magistrate Galea Sciberras fined Mr Gassi €20,000 and ordered that the vessel would only be released after the fine was settled. She warned him that, if the fine was not paid within 30 days, the vessel would also be confiscated.

Police Inspector Priscilla Caruana prosecuted.