Frontex surveillance flight detects illegal fishing and locates migrants off Lampedusa

A routine surveillance flight by Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, over the central Mediterranean led to the seizure of a fishing vessel, around 700 kilogramsof fish, and an 80-metre trawl net off the coast of Lampedusa on 21 March 2026. The same aircraft, on the same day, also flagged an adrift LNG tanker posing a danger to navigation and locatedtwo vessels carrying more than 40 people at sea.

The Frontex Surveillance Aircraft (FSA) was in transit to its planned patrol area when the crew spotted two fishing vessels operatingillegally inside Italian territorial waters. Frontex immediatelynotified the Italian Coast Guard and the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), following established interagency protocols.

Italian Coast Guard personnel, acting jointly with the Guardia di Finanza, deployed from Lampedusa. By 09:24 local time, one of the vessels had been intercepted and found to be trawling in violation of Italian law. The vessel was seized along with approximately 700 kilogramsof mixed fish and an 80-metre trawl net.

After completing the handover to Italian authorities, the FSA resumed its scheduled patrol. Over the course of the same day, the crew logged three further incidents: an LNG tanker adrift and presenting a danger to navigation, and two migrant vessels carrying more than 40 people on board. All cases were referred to the Italian authorities for follow-up action.

Frontex surveillance aircraftcarry out regular patrols over the central Mediterranean in support of Italian authorities and as part of the Agency's broader maritime surveillance mandate. Aircraftcrews report sightings of potential incidents - including irregular migration, maritime hazards, and environmental violations such as illegal fishing - to the relevant national and EU authorities for follow-up.

Illegal fishing in EU territorial waters is monitoredin cooperation with the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), which coordinates enforcement activities with Member States. Frontex crews report suspected violations to EFCA and national coast guard authorities as part of established interagency protocols.