The authorities have failed to do anything about fishermen dropping lines and nets on artificial reefs that are used to promote diving in Malta, even though divers' lives are being put at risk.

A group of about 20 divers were approaching the scuttled tugboat Rozi at Cirkewwa last week when they suddenly had to contend with a net that had been dropped on the wreck by fishermen overhead.

Diving instructors called the patrol boats on seeing the fishing boat but by the time it arrived the fishermen had gone.

In any case, it is not illegal to drop hooks or nets onto scuttled wrecks, which are a rich source of marine life, and it has become a common occurrence. This has led to divers getting caught up in nets and hooks, especially on night dives when they cannot see the danger.

Simone Brinch-Iversen, a member of the Professional Diving Schools Association, said repeated calls had been made by dive schools to put an end to the practice but nothing has been done.

"All we're asking for at this stage is for the authorities to set up a perimeter around artificial reefs before the peak summer season where no fishing is allowed. The nets are putting divers' lives at risk," Ms Brinch-Iversen said.

Questions on the issue were sent to Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech on Tuesday but The Times received no response by the time of writing.

Yet, Agnes Upton, who runs the Maltaqua dive centre in St Paul's Bay, said the lack of regulation and care at dive sites was having an effect on business.

"Two years ago we were 20 per cent down and last year had not improved. We go all over Europe and spend thousands of euros in advertising to promote diving in Malta but the authorities are doing little to help the situation."

Ms Upton, who has been diving for 40 years, said a number of quality dive sites in Malta had disappeared over the years due to environmental damage. And although the scuttled wrecks were starting to once again entice the more experienced divers to the island, they were not being adequately protected.

Another wreck is due to be scuttled at Cirkewwa in June in shallower water than the Rozi, which is about 30 metres deep, to provide a novel attraction for newer divers.

Ms Brinch-Iversen praises such initiatives, but she says regulation and enforcement in these areas are vital.

She also believes that facilities at Cirkewwa need to improve, since the old docking area for the Gozo ferry - which is where many divers get into the water - is being used as a public convenience because there are no public toilets.

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