Two Sicilian brothers, who own an Italian flagged trawler, were fined e4,658.75 (Lm2,000) each, and the 21 swordfish in their possession were confiscated, after pleading guilty to fishing five miles inside the Maltese 25-mile fishing conservation zone.

The vessel, named Delfino, was intercepted on Monday at 2.25am by the Armed Forces of Malta patrol boat P51, while on routine patrol. It lay 20 nautical miles northwest of San Dimitri Point in Gozo. There were four crew members aboard. Two of them, brothers from Catania, Mariano Strano, 54, and Carmelo Strano, 43, own the boat.

The two brothers pleaded guilty to fishing inside the 25-mile conservation zone without a Maltese licence, and entering Maltese waters without advising Maltese authorities that they were carrying fish. They also pleaded guilty to failing to transmit information to the Maltese authorities through their satellite-tracking device, called Vessel Monitoring System, in breach of Council Regulation No 2847/93.

The maximum penalty which could be inflicted upon the two Sicilians was a fine of e58,234.33 (Lm25,000) each, and the confiscation of their trawler.

The confiscated swordfish, at an estimated wholesale price of e2,329.37 (Lm1,000), are expected to be distributed to various homes for the needy.

The fishermen told the court, presided over by magistrate Anthony Vella, that they were willing to pay the fine straight away in order to carry on their fishing trip.

Police Inspector Alfred Mallia prosecuted, while Dr Malcolm Mifsud appeared for the Italians.