The Civil Guard of the Maritime Detachment of Fuerteventura, on October 15, apprehended four people between 40 and 60 years old, with 100 kilos of fish in a sports boat, for exceeding the amount of five kilos of fish per person authorized for recreational fishing, in Puerto Calero (Lanzarote).
The Civil Guard is aware of the events, thanks to citizen collaboration, as fishermen in the area warned that the aforementioned vessel had been fishing for two days and was likely carrying an excess of catch.
For this reason, a localization device was established, with the collaboration of different Institutions, through their fishery warden services, for the monitoring and environmental surveillance of the Site of Community Importance and the Special Areas of Conservation of the Canary Islands belonging to the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Energy, which has been co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
At approximately 8:00 PM on October 15th, a vessel of about 12 meters in length docked at the Puerto Calero marina in Lanzarote. At that moment, agents from the Maritime Detachment of the Civil Guard of Fuerteventura proceeded to inspect the vessel after detecting indications of a possible violation of fishing regulations.
Four people were on board who had just finished a day of recreational fishing. Although they all had the current regulatory documentation to carry out the activity, the agents found that the amount of fish caught far exceeded the permitted limits.
It should be noted that the weighing was carried out in the fishermen's association of the port of La Tiñosa (Puerto del Carmen), with the total catch adding up to one hundred kilograms, all the fish caught complying with the minimum regulatory size, and with a great variety of species such as seabreams, rock seabreams, black seabreams, grunt, parrotfish, barracudas, white seabreams, and veined rapa whelk.
Subsequently, the fish was destroyed because the cold chain had been broken, as the refrigerators in which it was stored lacked sufficient ice or a refrigeration system. The fish was probably destined for sale to a restaurant.
Catches from poaching or illegal fishing that are commercialized have not previously passed through a first sale point that guarantees their commercialization and consumption from a health perspective.
The increase in marine poaching has led the Maritime Service of the Civil Guard to intensify its surveillance and control work in waters near the coast of Fuerteventura, especially during this time of calm seas, when sea conditions facilitate illegal fishing. A large part of the body's efforts is focused on curbing a practice that, in recent months, has left several episodes.
Among the most recent actions, the seizure of 49 kilos of octopus and 25 kilos of limpets that were about to be sold to a restaurant in the town of Corralejo stands out. The Civil Guard reminds that the infraction falls not only on the poachers, but also on those establishments or individuals who acquire or market products obtained illegally.
Legislation
Currently, recreational fishing in inland waters of the Canary archipelago is regulated by Law 17/2003, of April 10, on Fishing in the Canary Islands. Depending on the excess in catches, the infraction may be considered minor (if it does not exceed twice the permitted amount) or serious (if it exceeds twice the permitted amount). Article 70. 4. e) of the Canary Islands Fishing Law cites as a serious offense "The capture of an amount of fish per person, in the recreational fishing modality, exceeding twice the maximum daily limit."
Fines of up to 60,000 euros
Grave infractions may be sanctioned with a fine of 301 to 60,000 euros, by virtue of Chapter IV, Article 76 of Law 17/2003, of April 10, on Fishing in the Canary Islands. This infraction carries, as an accessory sanction, the seizure of the products.
