The Civil Guard of Fuerteventura, reported on July 30 a 69-year-old person, owner of a professional fishing boat that was fishing while being permanently deregistered in the fishing fleet census.
The Maritime Detachment of Fuerteventura, in the exercise of the functions of surveillance of the territorial sea, is constantly carrying out monitoring and surveillance operations to control that both professional and recreational fishermen comply with current regulations.
Therefore, on July 30, the Provincial Maritime Service carried out preventive surveillance in different ports of the island of Fuerteventura, locating in the port of El Cotillo a professional fishing boat, which came from fishing, permanently deregistered in the fishing fleet census.
This boat was carrying 8.75 kg of bocinegros, which were deposited in the Fishermen's Association in El Cotillo and captured by its owner, a retired fisherman who had processed the permanent deregistration of the boat in the professional fleet census since August 2023 and was fishing alone.
Being registered in the Fishing Fleet Census is an essential requirement to carry out fishing activity and constitutes a basic element for the management of maritime fishing and the regulation of the fishing fleet is regulated in Royal Decree 1044/2022, of December 27.
On the other hand, in Chapter II, article 101.a) of Law 33/2014, of December 26, which modifies Law 3/2001, of March 26, on Maritime Fishing of the State, is reflected as a very serious infraction "the exercise or performance of professional maritime fishing activities without being included in the Census of the Operational Fishing Fleet".
Possible sanctions
Article 105 of the aforementioned Law 33/2014, in its section 1), cites the possible sanctions, among which are the pecuniary sanction; impossibility of obtaining loans, subsidies or public aid; seizure of the vessel and/or temporary immobilization of the vessel.
Article 106 states: "Very serious infractions will be sanctioned with a pecuniary sanction of 60,001 to 600,000 euros." Pecuniary sanctions will be imposed with reasons in the minimum, medium or maximum degrees, taking into account, among others, the following criteria:
a) Economic benefit that the alleged offender obtains or expects to obtain as a consequence of the infraction committed.
b) Size and power of the vessel.
c) Nature of the damages caused, especially to the seabed, ecosystems and living organisms, economic resources, public domain assets or third parties or affectation to areas with environmental or fishing protection.
d) Possibility of restitution of the damage caused as a consequence of the commission of the infraction.