Illegal whitebait fishing, huge seizure of three quintals by the Coast Guard engaged in control activities to protect fish resources and legality along the Calabrian Ionian coast. The Coast Guard’s activity continues unabated to combat illegal fishing, in particular of the so-called “whitebait”, and to guarantee the protection of marine resources. The intervention took place with the coordinated use of naval units and land-based devices, allowing widespread monitoring along the waters of jurisdiction, from the mouth of the Nicà river in the municipality of Cariati to Rocca Imperiale, to protect the delicate marine ecosystem.
During the operations, the military seized non-compliant fishing gear, including seines and nets without the technical requirements prescribed by national and community legislation, for a total of approximately 550 metres, tools that put biodiversity at risk by compromising the reproduction cycles of fish species. The control activity also extended to commercial businesses and land-based activities, with administrative disputes for tens of thousands of euros and seizures of fish products of various species, to verify the correct traceability of the catch and compliance with navigation safety parameters.
The latest significant intervention took place in Roseto Capo Spulico, where, following a joint night control between the Coast Guard and the Financial Police, approximately 250 kg of juvenile sardines, known as “bianchetto” or “sardella”, were seized. Fishing for this resource is strictly prohibited to preserve the biological stability of the seas, and thanks to timely intervention it has been removed from the illegal market circuits.