Maritime Police officers from Tavira have caught two Spanish fishing boats whose crews illegally had been catching shellfish.Around 160 kilos of shellfish were found onboard and were seized yesterday, February 15, in the sea off Tavira Island beach.
The Maritime Police has been on the lookout for national and foreign fishing vessels with specialist equipment used for the illegal capture of shellfish.
During the police action, two Spanish crews were questioned and several infractions were recorded, not least the fact they had no fishing licences.
The vessels were escorted to the port of Tavira, where, after appropriate charges were recorded, the police allowed the crews to return to their port of origin.
Fines for this sort of illegal fishing vary between €600 and €37,000.
The shellfish were still alive and so were returned to their home.
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