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An illegal catch of €700 worth of the popular dolphin fish, or lampuki, cost a Gozitan skipper dearly as he was fined €7,800.

Andrew Azzopardi, 58, of Xewkija, pleaded guilty to catching about 17 boxes of the fish before the official opening of the season on August 15.

Mr Azzopardi, captain of the fishing vessel Ġużeppi, also admitted making use of fishing aggregation devices used to attract the lampuki when it was not allowed by law, which prohibited the use of any form of apparatus between January 1 and August 14.

Police Inspector Frank Tabone prosecuted.

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