The safe passage of vessels is normally permitted in national territorial waters, according to sources at the Ministry of Shipping, responding to today's reports that Turkish fishing boats are casting their nets near the coast of Kythira.
The same sources point out that the specific vessel shown in the video is not fishing in national territorial waters but is a tugboat towing empty fish cages in order to transport them to the central Mediterranean or off the coast of Malta, where they will be transferred from other large licensed fishing vessels red tuna.
These trailers will then transport the cages containing the tuna to fattening farms in Turkey.
This is a specific procedure that takes place every year at the end of June, when the same boats with cages full of fish return to their country in the same way.
It should also be noted that even in the event of prohibitive weather conditions, such a fishing vessel may request permission to anchor in a safe location.
These vessels, like fishing boats, are monitored daily by European and Greek satellite systems, while coast guard helicopters have carried out and continue to carry out aerial surveillance.
P. Ts
