The Nature Protection Service (Seprona) of the Civil Guard in Fuerteventura investigated a 37-year-old man on January 11 for a crime of fishing and capturing an endangered species. Specifically, for fishing an angel shark (Squatina Squatina) in La Oliva and causing active bleeding by piercing part of the animal, which ended up dying shortly after.
The Civil Guard of the Main Post of Corralejo became aware of the events on December 31 of last year 2023. As a result, the Seprona was informed of the actions initiated, starting the appropriate investigation, as well as taking statements from witnesses that allowed to know the identity of the alleged perpetrator, being an Italian national and resident of the island of Lanzarote.
According to Seprona, the events occurred on December 31, 2023, when the aforementioned man entered the water with an underwater fishing rifle and captured a specimen of angel shark, after sticking the harpoon in its head. The events occurred on the beach of Jablito, La Oliva (Las Palmas) and the specimen of Squatina squatina was transferred to the Wildlife Recovery Center of the Biological Station of La Oliva, presenting a perforating lesion with active bleeding and dying shortly after.
It is a protected animal, which is cataloged as in Critical Danger of Extinction in the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as well as in the List of Wild Species under Special Protection and in the Spanish Catalog of Threatened Species as in "danger of extinction".
The Seprona of Fuerteventura has thanked the collaboration of the Seprona of the Civil Guard of Timanfaya and the citizens present at the place.
