Ambassador confident of solution

The Tunisian ambassador expressed confidence that a solution would be found to the dispute between Maltese and Tunisian fishermen.

Gozitan fishermen are complaining that Tunisians are netting fish from under their floats, and then vandalising the floats and cutting them adrift, while fishing for lampuki 20 to 80 miles west of Malta.

Asked about the situation following a meeting with President Guido de Marco, Tunisian ambassador Abdessalem Hetira said he learnt about the problem from the media. He immediately contacted the authorities in Tunisia and a preliminary investigation was launched.

Since then, Mr Hetira said, he had held a very interesting meeting with the Gozitan fishermen who were worried about the situation. They were, however, very reasonable and willing to cooperate with their Tunisian counterparts.

The ambassador said he was awaiting further evidence of the incidents from the Gozitan fishermen before further investigations could be held.

Mr Hetira said that information had already been sent to Tunis regarding an incident involving four Tunisian boats and the owners would be questioned.

Penalties for offenders ranged from stiff warnings to the loss of fishing permits.

He said the fishing department had, through its regional representatives, already sent out a warning to the fishermen about the problem.

There were 16,000 fishing boats in Tunisia but only a few fishermen fished for the lampuka as this fish was not popular there, Mr Hetira said.

When asked how he intended to deal with the problem, Malta's ambassador designate to Tunisia, Yves de Barro said: "I'll cross bridges when I get to them."

He said he would have to investigate the issue in more detail, though he added it was bound to be on the agenda of a mixed commission meeting being held soon.

Opposition fisheries spokesman Noel Farrugia has written to Foreign Minister Joe Borg expressing the opposition's preoccupation about the situation, saying this was threatening the provision of fresh fish.

He asked the government to report the experiences of Maltese fishermen and their families to the Food and Agriculture Organisation.