Residents of La Graciosa have contacted La Voz to denounce the rise in illegal fishing that takes place daily in the marine reserve that extends through the eighth island and the Chinijo Archipelago and is the second largest in Europe.
"They are carrying out illegal fishing with rifles inside the reserve," alerted a reader, who prefers to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. Thus, he adds that this practice outside the law has spread on the island for a year.
Marine rifle fishing in La Graciosa is prohibited by decree 62/1995, of March 24, which declared the space as a marine reserve of fishing interest. This regulation prohibits carrying "any type of instrument that can be used to fish or extract species", including knives, underwater freediving with a rifle or underwater shellfish harvesting.
According to his testimony, pneumatic boats of fishermen from Lanzarote would be leaving from 7.30 in the morning from the ports of Órzola, Arrieta and Famara to fish inside the reserve with rifles. In addition, this type of rifle fishing has also been seen on Lambra beach on the eighth island.
At this point, he assures that these poachers use other accomplices who from the Mirador del Río alert them of the arrival of the boats in charge of environmental protection to be able to leave the area and not be caught. "It's getting out of hand, one of the most important reserves in Europe and right now, the surveillance is almost zero," the citizen laments.
According to this testimony, the calls made to the competent authorities have not served to stop illegal fishing in this protected area.
This protected area covers 40% of outer waters and 60% of inner waters. This marine reserve was created on the initiative of the fishing sector and supported by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography and the University of La Laguna.
Thus, the cold waters that emerge in the marine environment of La Graciosa and its proximity to the richness of the African coasts influence the fishing value of the area.
In order to harvest shellfish in the marine reserve on foot or from a boat, fishermen must have an "express authorization" from the General Directorate of Heritage of the Government of the Canary Islands and be enrolled in the boats on the third list included in the census. In addition, depending on the type of fishing, it is prohibited or can be carried out with authorization in the area.
Consult regulations of the marine reserve of fishing interest of La Graciosa and Islotes del Norte de Lanzarote.
