He Furtivism in the shellfish is a persistent challenge in Galicia, Where it is estimated that approximately 1,700 perpetrators annually cancel around 660,000 kilos of seafoods illegally and without comply with the regulations that do not arrange neither time neither the catch methodologies.
Between The most coveted products of this illegal dedicated to Furtivism are mussels, Sentollas, Egels and Perclabeswhose loot is striking in the statistics of this illegal activity. Alarming, some of these poachers are repeated perpetrators who work professionally and benefit from the vulnerability of marine means.
He Furtivism in the shellfish is a threat to the sustainability of marine agents in Galicia. To effectively tackle this problem, it is necessary to implement measures that discourage offenders and at the same time tackle the underlying causes that control these illegal activities.
Galicia: Marisqueo and illegal fish
The attached police unit of Galicia (UPA) recorded 227 complaints last year that resulted in 24 investigated or detained people, in The framework for furtivism, illegal shellfish and illegal maritime fish.
He Balance of the actions performed, especially by the Police Response Team (Erpol Group)In addition to the research teams of the various UPA locations in the coastal provinces and always in collaboration with the Ministry of Mar, it also contains a total of 711 inspections with 130 vehicles registered in a total of 808 devices.
The data reflects the reduction of the Acriminal stickability due to pressure for furtivism By the UPA together with the Xeral sub -directory of Gardacostas of the Ministry of March, they also show a greater professionalization of police personnel in this area and better knowledge of the practices of the people who focus on illegal shellfish.
To these results The work that is being carried out by the operational group of underwater activities also contributes to (Goas), formed by five police officers and an inspector with the specific goal to fight furtivism And protect marine agents.
This group has collaborated with different departments of the Xunta, as well as with other institutions and safety forces in Inspections, research and searches of missing persons in aquatic media.
It is even worthwhile to emphasize the big requirement that this group receives underwater activities through specialized units from the National Police to participate in Processes developed in aquatic environments.
Moreover, the goas are He was part of the Galician contingent of emergency services moved to Valencia With the aim of working together in the search and rescue tasks of missing persons in operations at different locations.
Processes performed against furtivism
Over Other devices that were performed last year, the SO -Called Capilla -OperationConducted jointly with the general police station of the National Police, the Gardacostas service and the Maritime Police of Portugal. This operation included the seizure of more than one seafoodon, 79,000 euros in cash and a firearm, with a total of 14 people investigating alleged crime from belonging to the criminal organization.
It also emphasizes cooperation with the Xeral Directorate of Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture, Lingua and Xuventude and with the Navy Diving Unit based in the Ferrol headquarters in various interventions coupled with the supervision of immersed archaeological heritage.
Examples of this collaboration are participation in The action of saving archaeological interests that are susceptible to plunder On the coast of Corcubion and made in the port of Ribadeo.
The first, within the framework of the Giacomo de Galizia Galeon Pecium Research Project, sunken in that port in the 16th century. Second Intervention was the verification of the retention status of the wreck after the variation of a merchant ship ship In the Poortinvoerkanaal.
On the other hand, the UPA found a revolver in the requirement of the national police file in Santiago in a immersion to work together in the search for a person who could have precipitated from the Gundián Bridge, in the Coruña municipality of Vedra. Also in the context of cooperation with the Gardacostas service of Galicia, They inspected different trousers at the location of illegal seafood.
How to prevent furtivism?
The work of the unit, in collaboration with the Ministry of Mar, It focuses on devices that are aimed at preventing furtivism Or the action of the poachers, both in extractive activity and in the sale, transport and distribution of the product without the right health guarantees.
In particular, operations focus on the investigation of crimes against fauna and flora, against public health, documentary forgery, corrupted gender traffic and criminal group.
I know too In this area they include police activities with regard to maritime fishing, such as the documentary control of fishermen on foot or float, with bottles or lung, As well as the supervision of illegal art and supervision of size, quantity, weight and number, in addition to other actions.
So, so, Despite the reduction of troops and the assumption of new functions, The attached police unit of Galicia maintains its activity in collaboration with the Ministry of Mar, so that the necessary tasks in the field of control, inspection and realization of specific devices that can be performed the normality of the work of the Marisco sector and can be carried out with guarantees and the control Furtivism.
That is why the Xunta warns that the activity of the UPA is is influenced by the continuous reduction of troops since 2014While he is taking on a progressive increase in functions.