The Civil Guard of the Maritime detachment of Fuerteventura in collaboration with the Fish and Game Service belonging to the Ministry of Ecological Transition of the Government of the Canary Islands, on February 1 proceeded to report a 43-year-old recreational fisherman with no criminal record, for possessing the amount of about 36 kg. of assorted fish in a portable cooler inside a vehicle. The aforementioned fisherman was about to board with his vehicle one of the ferries that cover the Corralejo - Playa Blanca Lanzarote line.
The intervening agents carried out the corresponding inspection of the interior of the vehicle, finding inside a portable cooler in which there were almost 36 kg of assorted fish including parrot fish, rock seabream, abad and groupers, highlighting among them one of the pieces, being a grouper of about 23 kg, being limited to 10 kg the transport of fish between islands by recreational fishermen. These pieces had been captured in the modality of underwater fishing, without being able to determine the area. In addition, the offender had previously been reported for capturing unauthorized species while spearfishing in Lanzarote.
Also, the 23 kg grouper was deposited in the Fishermen's Association of Corralejo pending the result of the diagnostic test for ciguatoxin, being this microscopic marine toxin that accumulates through the food chain where smaller fish are eaten by larger fish. In this way, the larger fish are the ones that could contain more toxin and therefore, be more toxic.
Ciguatera
It is important to note that this toxin is not eliminated by any conservation or cooking technique (freezing, marinating, smoking, frying, boiling, baking or grilling). Accidental consumption by humans of species with high levels of ciguatoxin is usually associated with gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and neurological problems. For this reason, prevention is essential, based on controlling in the First Sale Points (PPV) the extractive fresh fish products susceptible to carrying ciguatoxins before their incorporation into the food chain.
The susceptible species are the following and the aforementioned test should be performed with weights equal to or greater than those indicated: Amberjack 13 kg, Grouper 12 kg., Pejerrey 9 kg., Abade 7 kg and Wahoo 35 kg.
In case recreational fishermen capture the species with weights equal to or greater than those described, it is recommended that it be taken to a laboratory for analysis or that it not be consumed.
The collaboration with the Fish and Game Service belonging to the Ministry of Ecological Transition, fight against climate change and planning of the Government of the Canary Islands was fundamental, being a joint service with the Maritime Detachment of the Civil Guard.
