Maltese fishermen are terrified when they take to the open seas and rarely report sightings of migrant boats, according to Ghaqda Kooperativa tas-Sajd president Carmelo Bugeja.

Moreover, Mr Bugeja insists the government should provide fishermen with long-needed guidelines on how to deal with migrant encounters, instructions he says fishermen have never had.

As matters stand, fishing boats, sometimes with just two or three crew, fear being overpowered if they draw too close to vessels carrying 20 to 30 migrants, as well as contracting communicable diseases.

“Fishermen already work hard and are under stress,” Mr Bugeja commented. “And now they are continually on the look out for migrants to make sure they don’t get near and attempt to cling to the fishermen’s boats.”

When they do manage to cling on to the ledge of the fishing vessel, Mr Bugeja says, “sometimes the only thing to do is to put the engine in full throttle and leave them behind”.

While migrants are avoided at all costs, when spotted they are seldom reported, Mr Bugeja said. He pointed out that when they are reported, a whole day’s work could be lost as a result since fishing boats are asked to remain nearby until the authorities arrive – leaving fishermen out of pocket and without compensation.

After recent highly publicised migrant incidents involving trawlers pulling tuna pens, fishermen, Mr Bugeja said, are concerned the practice will become widespread since migrant communities are in contact with each other by mobile phone, and even by satellite phone when at sea.

He says migrants have now discovered that leaving their vessels and clinging to tuna pens, easily done given the slow speeds with tuna pens in tow, they will be recovered from international waters and brought to land in Europe once the authorities are informed.

“Migrants have discovered this ploy and the belief is that the strategy will be adopted and spread,” Mr Bugeja added.

Mr Bugeja insists fishermen are growing increasingly concerned and that they urgently need guidelines, supervision and protection given the heavy migrant traffic of recent weeks.

Speaking recently, however, parliamentary secretary Tony Abela said fishermen are “highly experienced and know exactly what to do” in such situations.

He also pointed out that the government had been asked to allow fishermen to carry firearms to facilitate the execution of large fish brought aboard, but the request had been denied.

Mr Bugeja also disagrees with what he describes as the Armed Forces’ practice of sinking migrant boats once they have been transferred to patrol boats. He says such boats could be given to fishermen but instead are left semi-submerged after either being shot through to sink slowly or sometimes burnt – creating obstacles for other navigators.

A UNHCR spokesperson recently likened the current situation in the Mediterranean to the Wild West. Whatever the case, fishermen are on the front line and given their numbers they could be an asset to Mediterranean patrols. But they clearly need to be brought more on board and be given guidance on the often hazy international law of the sea.

The EU is to gather national experts to thrash out the interpretation of the international laws, but has already identified a number of key areas that need to be addressed.

One is the need for a more accurate determination of the correct modus operandi with which to intercept vessels carrying, or suspected of carrying, illegal immigrants bound for the European Union.

Next is the recently sensitive issue of determining the most appropriate port for disembarkation following a sea rescue or interception, as well as the related issue of protection responsibilities between countries taking part in such operations. Libyan cooperation on the issue will be essential.

Also to be analysed is the extent of obligations under the principle of non-refoulement, which deals with the principle of not returning refugees to places such as war zones and other disaster areas where their lives or freedoms could be threatened.