Angling for trouble

THE Fisheries Inspectorate of Andalucia have once again pooled their resources, clubbing together with the Guardia Civil to seize a whopping 694 kilos of shady seafood from wholesalers in Mercamalaga and Velez-Malaga.

The black market brine-feast comprised 30 kilos of octopus, 50 kilos of smooth clams, known locally as ‘concha fina,’ 365 kilos of baby clams, 88 kilos of red mullet, 50 kilos of sardines, 40 kilos of whitebait and a monstrous 56 kilo of bluefin tuna, with the haul confiscated on grounds of tenebrous traceability, inaccurate labelling and small size.

Much of the impounded grub was destroyed, although that which could be traced back to point of origin was donated to food bank Bancosol, with brassed off Fisheries and Rural Development minister, Javier Salas, drawing attention to the “biological damage” to marine resources caused by the capture of immature individuals, as well as the detrimental knock-on effect to those fishermen who do not cock a snook at environmental regulations.

The official also offered his congratulations to the investigating partnership for their “impressive actions which intensify during the summer due to the rising demand for fish throughout the holiday season and the massive influx of tourists.”