As we reported just a couple of days ago, sightings of poaching boats have led to “heavy monitoring” by the Navy in the area surrounding the municipality. As a result, this weekend we had the first retention of products in closure and less than a month before the opening of the grouper season.
Personnel from the 13th Naval Zone launched the operation in coordination with the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Conapesca) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA).
The detention was carried out in the middle of these inspection and land surveillance actions, after sighting a pickup truck that was on the beach of Progreso’s eastern sector, where five subjects were unloading products of dubious origin from a fishing boat.
Upon noticing the presence of the Navy and Conapesca personnel, the suspects immediately fled the scene, leaving behind a red Chevrolet pickup truck, in which approximately 140 kilograms of fresh fish product, 15 kilograms of shelled snail, and 96 kilograms of “Coronado” (crowned snail) were detected.
An air compressor and the vehicle were also seized.
Several fishermen who became aware of the illegal activity that their colleagues were carrying out expressed their anger. They pointed out that there are more poachers, not only in Progreso but also in the eastern coast of Yucatan.
The Navy officers proceeded to take the corresponding actions along with Conapesca’s personnel, retaining the product and fishing gear. The vehicle and the other components found in it were handed over to the corresponding authorities.
TYT Newsroom
