CAIRO, Dec. 24 (Aswat Masriya) The Egyptian Foreign Ministry is currently in coordination with the Tunisian authorities to resolve the issue of the 16 Egyptian fishermen, who were arrested Monday night for illegal entry and trawl fishing on the Tunisian coast of Zarzis.

According to the ministry's spokesperson Ahmed Abou Zeid, the Egyptian embassy in Tunisia has confirmed the wellness of the fishermen and is currently in coordination with both the Tunisian authorities and the boat's owner to resolve the issue and ensure the fishermen's rapid return to Egypt.

The boat-full of fishermen that broke into Tunisian territorial waters was consequently handed over to the National Guard of the Zarzis Coast in order to proceed with the legal procedures. It was later transferred to the Sfax Coast to continue investigations.

The fine for breaking into Tunisian territorial waters ranges between 20 to 220 thousand dollars.

Scores of Egyptians have been detained, and later released, in Libya, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia for illegally crossing over into their territorial waters to fish.  

The Egyptian foreign ministry has repeatedly issued warnings to fishermen against illegally entering regional waters.