Environment agency seize 40 kilos of mussels and other shellfish from three poachers

The search operation resulted in more than a hundred kilos of mussels Seized in one week

The watchdog of the Ministry of Environment of the council, yesterday again located three shellfish poachers, who were fishing off the coast of Los Molinos (municipality of Puerto del Rosario), this time with 40 kg of mussels (Perna perna) that they were Seize.

This operation adds to the Seized 65 kilograms last Wednesday with three other poachers in the Emerald Coast, so the seafood confiscated by Environmental Services has managed to overcome the hundred pounds in one week.

The three individuals, aged between 30 and 40, were spotted while they were collecting mussels in an area close to Los Molinos, known as Punta de La Cruz or the Old Board, around 11:00 pm yesterday Thursday the 10th of September.

The sighting was Carried out by a pair of agents patrolling the Windward coast in an inflatable boat of Environmental Services. Radio communication allowed a second pair of agents patrolling on the other side in a 4x4 vehicle to intercept the three shellfish, who realize they had been located from the sea tried to flee by land in the rental car they were using to move.

Once the Environment vehicle stopped thier departure, these three people did not offer any more resistance and identified as SJBE, SSS, and MEC, residents of Corralejo (La Oliva).

Environment Councilor of the Chapter, Natalia Evora, recalled the "serious injury" caused to the biodiversity of the island the unlawful activity of shellfish in closed season, "at a time when much of the Efforts of the surveillance target services to preserve our protected species, in this case the mussel Perna perna.

"We must be vigilant in pursuit of all illegal for shellfish, especially this September when high tides reach del Pino, and Therefore that many use to try to Obtain Large quantities of barnacles and mussels," said the counsellor.

Évora once again called for public cooperation, "which is so necessary in alerting the authorities, when these crimes occur on our Coasts, and in many cases can lead to successful operations by the Guardia Civil, Environment agency and Local Police.

-- Puerto del Rosario, 11 September 2009.

Cabildo de Fuerteventura PRESS

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