HIBAPRESS – Shafiq Anouri
Spanish Civil Guard elements arrested three Moroccan fishermen from the Belyounech region after seizing a red tuna weighing about 90 kilograms from them, near the entrance to the occupied Ceuta port. This fish is from the protected species whose fishing is prohibited according to Spanish environmental laws.
According to the "El Faro de Ceuta" website, the operation took place in the early hours of Thursday morning when the naval unit of the Civil Guard spotted a boat coming from Morocco before searching it and finding inside the illegally caught red tuna. The source added that the three fishermen will be brought before the judiciary to consider the suspicion of committing a crime against wildlife, a charge punishable by Spanish law with penalties that may reach fines of 60,000 euros, or criminal proceedings if the violation is serious. The website clarified that determining the type of penalty, whether administrative or criminal, will depend on a set of criteria, including the quantity of fish caught, the lack of a license or legal permit, or fishing outside the permitted periods, in addition to the possibility of directing the caught quantity to unlicensed sale or trade. "El Faro de Ceuta" pointed out that the environmental protection unit of the Spanish Civil Guard, known as "SEPRONA", is in charge of preparing the technical report on this incident, within its supervisory tasks aimed at protecting endangered species and preventing overfishing in the territorial waters.
