Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Resources Minister George Pullicino yesterday gave Parliament extensive information on the saga of attacks on Maltese tuna fishermen by environmentalists and the Armed Forces of Malta's interventions to protect the fishermen.
They were answering two questions by Ċensu Galea (PN).
Mr Pullicino said there had been six attacks on June 5, 6, 13, 17 (two) and 19. The first two attacks had involved not only Maltese fishermen but also French and Tunisian trawlers collaborating with them.
The first three attacks - the one on June 13 involving a Maltese operator's tuna pen - had allegedly been carried out by Greenpeace. The last three attacks on Maltese tuna pens had allegedly been carried out by Sea Shepherd.
Mr Pullicino said the ministry was in constant contact with the AFM, with Libyan and French authorities and with the EU's Community Fisheries Control Agency (CFCA) to offer protection to Maltese operators and their activities. The ministry had also taken steps to send a note verbale to the Dutch government to take the necessary steps against the Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd vessels, all of which flew the Dutch flag.
There was also continuous communication between the operators and the authorities, including ministry officials, to avoid further damage.
Mr Pullicino also said that besides verbal notification of attacks from fish farm operators, the ministry had received an official report on June 9 from a representative of Maltese fish farm operators, including a request for constant vigilance for the protection of Maltese assets.
Dr Gonzi said Maltese fishermen regularly communicated with the AFM when encountering difficulties at sea. This had also happened on June 5 when a Maltese fishery sought AFM help during a Greenpeace attack on their pen. A patrol boat had been dispatched to investigate and help as necessary.
The AFM had an important role in the surveillance at sea. On June 8 and 13 there had been two other interventions by the AFM that had not been set off by reports but actually by such surveillance.