AFM Commander requested an investigation over warning shots

by Ivan Brincat

The Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta has requested an independent investigation, conducted by the Commissioner of Police, into the allegations that a Maltese fishing vessel was hit by AFM warning shots, government sources told The Malta Business Weekly yesterday.
The government sources deny allegations by fishermen that they were carrying heavy weapons and grenades on the rubber dinghies. “AFM personnel involved in the incident were dressed and equipped as per established AFM procedures for this type of operation. It is pertinent to note that heavy weapons and grenades were not carried.” Meanwhile, the government has categorically declared that warning shots are never aimed at persons and/or boats.
The sources said that during the last meeting between the fisheries cooperative and Ninu Zammit, the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, the cooperative officials repeatedly stated that they were only interested in a 50:50 division of the fish in the cage.
“They stated that they had no interest in the pen and its contents if the Italian fishermen were not ready to accept this arrangement,” the sources said.
They added that during the meeting, Mr Zammit repeatedly asked them whether it would not be better to take the case to court, whereby the value of the fish in the cage would have been deposited and any dues to them guaranteed. “They categorically refused to follow this advice and when pressured for the reasons, they said they had no faith in the Law Courts, they had no time to lose and were sure that the truth would never prevail in a court case,” the sources said.
Asked if any bilateral meetings with Italy were necessary following the incidents, they said that the interest of both sides to involve themselves in achieving the right procedures during tuna fishing in future was highlighted and emphasised during and after all discussions. “Both sides have promised to do their utmost to lay down a plan in the shortest time possible. The modus operandi in this area has to be established between the two sides and later presented in International Fora for acceptance by other neighbouring coastal states and flag states that historically have been fishing in the same area.”
The government sources said that no foreign boat can fish within the 25-mile fishing zone (EFZ). Any foreign boat fishing in that area stands to lose the fish and fishing gear and is liable to a fine between Lm4,000 and Lm50,000.
The sources said that it was established that originally the fish were just inside the EFZ at circa 24.4 nautical miles and it was the Maltese boat that was luring. In the area close by there were purse seiners flying the French and Italian flags.
They were both keeping under surveillance the shoal of tuna through their sonar or fish finders. The sources said the rivalry was definitely between these purse seiners and not between the Maltese and the Italians.
The sources said the fish was purse seined outside the EFZ at circa 27.48 nautical miles that is basically the same location from where the tug boat St James
was meant to tow the cage of fish. The sources added that the cage was also first sighted in the hands of the Maltese outside the 25 mile fishing zone very close to the area established by the May Day call.