MISURATA - An Italian fisherman has been rescued by a Navy vessel after he was shot in the arm by the Libyan coast guard, fishing 75 miles off the coast of the Libyan city of Misrata. This was confirmed to Italian media by Salvatore Quinci, the mayor of Mazara del Vallo, the Sicilian fishing village from where the fisherman had set off.

  The Libyan coast had guard allegedly fired warning shots at two Italian fishing vessels which, according to the fishermen, led to an explosion in parts of the boat and injured his arm. He called for assistance and was picked up by a Navy ship and emergency rescue helicopter.

  This is not the first time this week that an Italian fishing vessel was shot at, after seven vessels escaped an alleged kidnapping attempt off the coast of Benghazi on the evening of May 2, in which warning shots were also fired, hitting a boat but not causing any injuries.

  The last few years has seen an increase in fishing territory disputes between Italy and Libya, particularly fuelled by Muammar Gaddafi proclaiming in 2005 that Libya’s protected fishing zone extends 74 nautical miles from the coast, violating the international laws of the sea.

  In September 18 fishermen from Sicily – eight Italians, six Tunisians, two Indonesians and two Senegalese – were captured by Libyan authorities for allegedly fishing in Libyan waters, and were only freed three months later.

  Italian fishing vessels have also been advised by the government to avoid contested waters near the coast as a result of the civil war in Libya.

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