VALVERDE (EL HIERRO), 19 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Fisheries Inspection Agents from the Government of the Canary Islands, in collaboration with the Maritime Fisheries Guard Service of El Hierro, have confiscated 55 kilos of fish captured within the Punta de la Restinga-Mar de Las Calmas marine reserve.
Thanks to the cooperation of the public, these illicit activities came to light, resulting in a complaint being lodged against two individuals for engaging in unauthorised actions within a protected fishing area of interest.
As per the Canary Islands Fisheries Law, these infringements are considered very serious and could incur fines ranging from €60,001 to €300,000, as stated by the Canary Islands Government Fisheries Department.
During the inspection, the fishermen tried to discard their spearguns by tossing them into the sea and refused to disclose their identities.
Nevertheless, the authorities found 26 kilos of fish and managed to reclaim one of the two rifles after conducting a dive in the coastal region.
Subsequently, during an inspection in the Timijiraque area, where the presence of both individuals had been previously confirmed, another 29 kilos of catches were discovered in a hidden location.
A total of 55 kilos of various species, including horse mackerel, abade, megrim, amberjack, octopus, and bicuda, were seized.
In the days following the incident, the Fisheries Inspection Service monitored the vehicles of these two individuals in an attempt to identify them through a check at the Port of La Estaca as they were preparing to board the ferry to Tenerife.
With the cooperation of the Port Authority, one of the individuals was identified, although no catches or fishing gear were found in their vehicle.
However, upon inspecting the other vehicle, the driver of which could only be identified through a subsequent investigation, officials discovered an empty cooler with remnants of scales and other traces indicating it had recently contained fish.
Aside from Punta de La Restinga-Mar de Las Calmas, there are two other areas in the Canary Islands designated as Marine Reserves due to their significance for fishing and ecology: La Graciosa and the islets in the north of Lanzarote, and La Palma.
These protected zones play a crucial role in ensuring the reproduction and preservation of fishing-relevant species, thereby aiding in the replenishment of resources and supporting the pursuit of sustainable exploitation.
