Brussels, 12/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - The international marine conservation organisation, Oceana, welcomes the provisions taken by the Italian government with a view to ordering the confiscation of driftnets held illegally by Italian fishing vessels in the Mediterranean. EU regulations have prohibited the use of such nets since January 2002 for fishing tuna. Oceana had sounded the alarm in November 2006 announcing that it had evidence that driftnets had been used by 71 Italian vessels and 37 French vessels (EUROPE 9303). In a press release published on Friday 12 January, Oceana explains that the Italian minister for agriculture and fisheries, Paolo de Castro, is preparing to publish a national decree allowing inspectors to confiscate these nets at port. Previously, the Italian coastguard (Guardia Costiera) could only confiscate illegal fishing gear if its use was verified on the high seas. The nets could be “freely exposed” at port, Oceana states, trusting that now the relevant authorities will apply “zero tolerance” by ordering confiscation and destruction of the illegal nets. (lc)