The eastern bluefin (BFT) migration has supported valuable fisheries in the Mediterranean since antiquity. Initially based on hand lines and beach seines, these fisheries were dominated after the 16th century by tuna cages placed in the path of migrating tuna. After the expansion of purse seines and longlines in the Atlantic (in the 1950s) and in the Mediterranean (in the 1970s), the importance of tuna fishing has gradually decreased. The main EU fishing countries are Spain, France and Italy, and to a lesser extent, Croatia, Portugal, Malta, Greece and Cyprus.
While May is approaching, the first 2 Italian fishing vessels were seen at Grand Harbour during the month of April…
First one was the 2009 built 49 metres purse seiner FILOMENA PRIMA homeported at Napoli, Italy with fishing matricola as NA 2207 of which she was seen entering Grand Harbour last Thursday 4th April, 2024 during her maiden call.
More images can be found here – https://maltashipphotos.com/photo/filomena-prima-na-2207-04-04-2024/
Second one that was here was the 2002 built 22.5 metres stern fishing trawler ALESSANDRO with fishing matricola as MV 1394 homeported at Mazara Del Vallo. She’s the former SALVATORE C that was acquired this year and entered Grand Harbour last Tuesday 16th April at 1703 hrs berthing at Lab Wharf South 1 and left yesterday Thursday 18th April at 1456 hrs bound to fishing grounds.
More images can be found here – https://maltashipphotos.com/photo/alessandro-mv-1394-17-04-2024/
