Illegal Shark Fishing Boat Seized
Mexican boat carrying 3 tons of shark seized |
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Mexico City, May 7 (EFE).- A Mexican boat used for illegal fishing that was carrying three tons of captured shark was confiscated by authorities, officials said Wednesday.
The Pargo V was being employed 8 nautical miles from the island of Roca Partida, part of the Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve, in violation of a law that stipulates such fishing must take place at least 12 nautical miles from the coasts in that area.
The boat's activity was detected by an oceanologist with Profepa, the federal agency that enforces environmental regulation, and later intercepted by members of that environmental organization and navy sailors. Its seven crew members were arrested in the operation.
The Pargo V was being used for shark fishing and, at the time of its seizure, was employing an 8-kilometer (5-mile) longline on which eight sharks had been hooked.
That vessel was the second boat confiscated in the area over the past three weeks for illegal fishing. In mid-April, the Sebastian I was seized 11 nautical miles from the nature reserve with 18 tons of shark.
Both boats currently are in the custody of the navy in the Colina port of Manzanillo.
The biosphere reserve encompasses the islands of Socorro, Clarion, Roca Partida and San Benedicto. It is protected under an agreement involving Profepa, the navy and the National Commission of Protected Areas that bans the fishing of species that are in danger of extinction, subject to temporary restrictions or located in a prohibited area.
