Fishing boat caught

THE Italian registered fishing boat Ausonia has been apprehended by the Fisheries Inspection vessel Alboran 90 miles off the south east of Minorca, for using forbidden fishing methods. According to a government spokesman, the Italian boat was inspected at 6.15am when she was seven miles within a protected area where fishing is banned.
She was allegedly using a drift net which had caught 32 tunas, ten swordfish and various breams.
As these nets were banned by the European Union in January, the boat was ordered to sail into the port of Mahon, for bail to be set and an investigation opened. The skipper initially refused to comply with the order, so a crew from the Alboran was sent on board. Because of weather conditions the ships are travelling at four knots and are due to arrive in Mahon this morning.