The bodies of 19 people were found on Tuesday off the coast of Tunisia, which is one of the main departure points for those wanting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.
Tunisia's coast guard said in a statement that it found the bodies near the port cities of Mahdia and Sfax, the country's second-largest city, where migrants have clashed with law enforcement in recent weeks.
Despite the risks, migrants continue to attempt the treacherous journey from North Africa to Europe, traveling by boat from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya to Italy, Greece, Malta and Spain's Canary Islands.
More than 49,000 people came to Europe by sea this year, of which more than 7,000 came from Tunisia to Italy.
Many more attempted the journey, including thousands detained by North African authorities, and an estimated 473 are dead or missing, according to the UN's International Organization for Migration.
Politicians on both sides of the Mediterranean have largely focused their migration policies on combating human trafficking and dismantling smuggling networks.
Tunisian authorities said on Tuesday they had arrested five smugglers. Human trafficking charges typically carry lengthy sentences of up to 20 years.
