A new incident of illegal fishing in Ría Lagartos has caught the attention of maritime authorities after a pink flamingo was caught in an illegal fishing net.
The net was apparently thrown by fishermen from Las Coloradas in a protected area within the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve.
This activity highlights the persistent illegal practice of certain seafarers who, despite sanctions and seizures in previous years, continue to throw nets and longlines in areas where commercial fishing is strictly prohibited.
Flamingo caught in fishing nets
The sighting of the trapped flamingo occurred this Thursday morning during a tourist tour taken by a local resident who, upon encountering the bird, noticed its legs were caught in a net abandoned in the estuary.
The porteña immediately managed to free the flamingo, carefully removing the nets that kept it immobilized, thus avoiding further harm to the bird.
This bad practice is not isolated, as similar incidents have been reported in previous years, both in Río Lagartos and in the port of El Cuyo, where birds and other marine animals have been caught in illegal nets.
The incident was reported to the authorities.
In response to this incident, several reports were sent to the National Commission for Aquaculture and Fisheries (Conapesca) and the National Commission for Natural Protected Areas (Conanp).
They conducted patrols in the area to detect and seize illegal fishing gear; however, those responsible were not located.
It should be noted that last year, prohibited fishing gear was seized in the estuary, and violators were sanctioned according to the law.
Despite these measures, fishermen persist in their refusal to comply with regulations, which puts biodiversity at risk.
