Pájara Local Police seize 57.5 kilos of illegally harvested mussels in Costa Calma

Pájara Local Police seized a total of 57.5 kilos of mussels of the species Perna perna, illegally harvested in the Agualiques area of Costa Calma, during an operation carried out last Sunday, 25 October.

The operation was carried out by an officer from the Beaches Department, who spotted two people gathering shellfish without the required permits.

According to Pájara Town Council, those involved not only lacked the permits required for the activity, but had also substantially exceeded the three-kilo limit set by the new regulations.

In response to these breaches, officers seized the 57.5 kilos of mussels and filed the corresponding complaints against the two people involved.

Further action against illegal shellfish gathering

The operation follows other interventions carried out this year in the same stretch of the Costa Calma coastline, where officers responsible for beach patrols have detected several incidents of illegal harvesting of marine resources.

Pájara Town Council reminds the public that gathering marine species without authorisation, as well as exceeding the permitted maximum quantities, is an offence that may result in administrative penalties.

The council stresses the importance of complying with the rules governing shellfish gathering and avoiding practices that could threaten the conservation of the municipality’s marine resources.

The recovery of Fuerteventura’s mussel and controls on harvesting

The operation comes at a particularly significant time for the Canary Islands mussel, harvesting of which has been restricted in Fuerteventura for more than two decades to help its populations recover.

The recent experimental reopening of the harvesting season sets out specific conditions for shellfish gathering, including the requirement to hold authorisation and observe the established catch limits.

In this context, coastal patrols are especially important to prevent illegal harvesting that could jeopardise progress in the species’ recovery.

Pájara Town Council reiterates its call for public responsibility and compliance with the regulations to ensure the sustainable use of marine resources along Fuerteventura’s coast.