The Local Police of Arrecife arrested this Thursday a man with a search, arrest and presentation warrant for a crime of fraud. The arrest took place at around 6:00 p.m. when agents from the Animal and Environmental Protection Unit (UPAM) surprised the individual fishing for octopuses.
Before being arrested, the fisherman was seen leaving the sea with a wetsuit, a gaff and a bag that apparently contained octopuses. At that moment, the Police received a notice of prohibited underwater fishing activity in the bay. After a detailed inspection, it was confirmed that he was carrying around twelve kilograms of this species.
Immediately afterwards, the agents proceeded to identify the subject and verified that he had a search, arrest and presentation warrant issued by Court number 1 of San Bartolomé de Tirajana for fraud. Therefore, the individual was arrested in the area and placed at the disposal of the Investigating Court number 1 of Arrecife.
After the arrest, the captured octopuses were returned to their natural habitat. Regarding the catches of the species, the person involved was proposed to apply an administrative sanction.
It is important to note that, according to the regulations of the Government of the Canary Islands, "the cephalopod (octopus) is included in shellfish harvesting, and its capture is prohibited underwater. Its capture is allowed on foot in the intertidal zone, with a minimum size of 1 kilogram and a maximum of 5 kilograms in inland waters", the Local Police pointed out.
"Since Arrecife is considered Outer Waters", the capture of cephalopods, such as octopus, "is prohibited according to the state fisheries law, unless there is government authorization and one is an authorized professional by the Government of the Canary Islands", they recalled.
