The government has betrayed Maltese and Gozitan fishermen by not appealing a court sentence through which foreign fishermen are being permitted to fish in Maltese waters, Nationalist Party spokesman Toni Bezzina said.

Last week, two foreign fishermen charged with illegal fishing in Maltese territorial waters were acquitted after a court ruled that an EU “special fishing permit” they possessed exempted them from following local legislation. The case was first revealed by the Times of Malta.

A few days later, the newspaper also revealed that no appeal was filed.

Addressing a news conference, Mr Bezzina said that the government's failure to appeal meant that it had thrown away the protection negotiated by the Nationalist government with the EU.

He said fishermen were also facing other challenges and inconveniences but the government was not taking action.