Chetumal, Q.R. — Naval authorities intend to continue surveillance this year to deter poaching off the coast of Chetumal. Vice Admiral José Luis Tlatelpa Castillo says the illegal fishing represents a threat to the marine ecosystem and the economy of local fishermen.
For this reason, maritime and environmental authorities will continue to work to reinforce surveillance and inspection operations in matters of fishing. He says the reinforcement is with the objective of guaranteeing the maintenance of the Rule of Law in the national seas and coasts.
“We have a program around poaching where we are carrying out overflights with aircraft from the Navy and also patrolling aboard interceptor patrols in Banco Chinchorro and along the coasts of Chetumal.
“We are also conducting tours with various state and municipal government agencies with groups that are searching for any element or vessel that is carrying out an activity that is not considered usual, such as poaching. We are also working with Conanp.”
Vice Admiral José Luis Tlatelpa Castillo pointed out that the operations help to prevent poachers from catching species during their closed fishing seasons. He says Naval personnel are patrolling the coasts to locate potential poachers, but to date, have not located anything illegal.
According to Tlatelpa Castillo, authorities are also searching restaurants, warehouses, shops and places where seafood is sold, in search of recently purchased illegal fish species.
“Networks have been detected during anti-fishing patrols, so restaurants, warehouses and vessels at sea have been inspected, but so far, what has been found is within the rules. We have not discovered any illegal fishing.”
He added that if fishermen are caught poaching, their boat, fishing equipment and catch is seized and a legal process started “to send a clear message to the offenders that illegal fishing is not tolerated in the seas and coasts of Mexico.”
