Italian skipper fined €35,000

The skipper of an Italian trawler was fined €35,000 yesterday after he admitted to illegal fishing in Maltese waters on Monday. The vessel, Mamma Maria, was 16 nautical miles southwest of the island when the armed forces' Operations Centre at Luqa...

The skipper of an Italian trawler was fined €35,000 yesterday after he admitted to illegal fishing in Maltese waters on Monday.

The vessel, Mamma Maria, was 16 nautical miles southwest of the island when the armed forces' Operations Centre at Luqa Barracks was alerted to its presence.

An army plane that happened to be airborne at the time was directed to the vessel's coordinates and spotted the trawler in Maltese waters.

Francesco Giancalone, 44, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna.

A small amount of fish on board the boat was confiscated.

Magistrate Apap Bologna also ordered that the skipper remains on the island until he pays the fine.

Legal aid lawyer Anthony Cutajar appeared for Mr Giancalone.

Lawyer Aaron Mifsud Bonnici appeared for the Fisheries Department.

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