There Coast Guard of Gioia Tauro The intense activity of contrasting the illegal fishing of red tuna (Thunnus Thynnus), one of the most precious and vulnerable species of the Mediterranean continues.
On yesterday night, a temporarily parked fishing unit parked at the Port of Gioia Tauro for maintenance to the technical equipment used in previous fishing trips, was the subject of a check by the fishing inspectors of the local Port Authority. Specifically, inside the on -board frozen cells, red tuna fillets were found, partly frozen, and partly still fresh, for a total total of over 500 kga quantity higher than that indicated in the official capture document. To feed the suspicions of the inspectors, the fact that the huge amount of fish product appeared at first sight incongruent compared to what was declared.
This circumstance induced the military to carry out more in -depth checks, crossing data, acquiring further information in real time, and estimating, based on official parameters, the equivalent weight of the whole tuna caught from which the slices found on board had been obtained. From these checks, in fact, it emerged that the real weight of the caught tuna (about 960kg) was significantly higher, almost double, compared to that declared in the capture documents (435kg).
The fish product was therefore placed under administrative seizure and the penalties provided for the violation of the registration obligations of the catches were applied to the managers, for an amount of 2666 euroswhich is added the accessory sanction of the application of three points to the commander of the fishing unit and the owner of the fishing license.
This intervention is added to the important operation conducted by the same military on the night between 2 and 3 June, in the port of Taureana di Palmi at the outcome of which 5 specimens of red tuna had been seized, equal to about 1000 kg, then donated to charity. These operations demonstrate the daily commitment of the Coast Guard in counteracting illegal fishing and protecting the fish resources of the Mediterranean, especially red tuna, especially precious, subject to severe regulations aimed at guaranteeing its survival, and which in this part of the year is subject to particular attention from the Coast Guard, considering the high demand by the market. The controls will continue incessant throughout the territory, at sea and land, to guarantee the protection of fish stocks and the sustainability of marine resources.