SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 22 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Agents of the Fisheries Inspection Service of the General Directorate of Fisheries of the Government of the Canary Islands denounced last Friday two poachers on the island of El Hierro with 148 kilos of fish, of which 138 kilos and two spearfishing rifles were seized.
Groupers, black croaker, minnows, horse mackerel and blue roosters were the main catches, species of fragile ecological balance that are affected by poaching that has caused serious damage to the islands.
The events occurred last Friday when a group of agents from the Fisheries Inspection Service observed an inflatable boat early in the morning, which gave support to two underwater fishermen who carried out illegal activity, both within the spaces authorized for the practice. spearfishing as well as outside these areas.
Within the framework of the existing collaboration agreement between the Fisheries Inspection Service and the Civil Guard, the participation of this security body was requested given the difficulties in locating these poachers, being located around 8:00 p.m. at the Los Gigantes dock. , in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
The agents verified that the catches exceeded the 5 kilos authorized per person, so they proceeded to identify the boat.
Each of the observed infractions are classified as serious in the Canary Islands Fisheries Law 17/2003 of April 10 and can lead to fines of between 301 and 60,000 euros.
Likewise, offenders may face accessory sanctions such as the withdrawal of the fishing license or the confiscation of the gear used, among others.
