Around 80 illegal immigrants arrived in several small boats on the southwest coast of Sardinia on Thursday after crossing from Algeria.
The immigrants, who had taken advantage of a fair weather spell to make the crossing, were taken to a migrant centre on the island.
Earlier this week coast guard officials warned that a new hard-line policy to turn back boats of would-be immigrants leaving from Libya, formerly the most popular jumping-off point for illegal immigrants, could result in human traffickers switching activity to other North African countries such as Tunisia.
Four dinghies and small boats were rescued or intercepted by the coast guard on Tuesday off Sicily and were presumed to have set off from Tunisia.
Italy's new policy is aimed at preventing immigrants and possible asylum-seekers who set off from Libya from reaching the country's southernmost island of Lampedusa.
Migrants are rescued by Italian coast guard and navy vessels and taken back to Libya.
Italy has so far returned to Libya more than 500 migrants despite criticism from the United Nations, the Catholic Church and humanitarian organisations.
Coast guard officials in Italy reported on Tuesday that the new hard-line policy has so far managed to halt departures from Libya, while Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said Wednesday that Libyan intelligence suggested it had also stopped departures from Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.
The return to Libya of illegal immigrants and the joint patrols are part of a Friendship, Partnership and Cooperation Treaty between Rome and Tripoli signed in August 2008.
Under the terms of the accord which resolves issues related to Italy's colonial occupation of the North African country, Italy will pay Libya $200 million over 25 years to fund various projects.
