The Balearic Government fines an individual with 60,000 euros for serious infringements in matters of fisheries management

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment has fined an individual with 60,001 euros for serious infringements in matters of fisheries management. Specifically, last April, the offender was reported by inspectors from the Directorate General of Fisheries for providing false data regarding the origin of the products obtained in the fishing activity. The inspectors realized that this person had already been reported on several occasions for infringements in this matter, such as not taking on board the minimum crew or taking on board crew members who were not on the vessel's roster and also storing fish without weighing.

Thus, it was found that the offender had accumulated three complaints in less than 24 months. Having verified these facts, the inspectors not only reported him for the serious infringement observed in April, but also for a very serious infringement for accumulating other serious infringements. In this sense, article 126 of Law 6/2013, of November 7, on maritime fishing, shellfishing and aquaculture in the Balearic Islands establishes that it constitutes a very serious infringement to commit three serious infringements in a period of less than 24 months.

As a result of the reported facts, on August 22, 2024, it was agreed to initiate an administrative sanctioning procedure against the interested party for a very serious offence, which was resolved in January of this year with the payment of the fine by the interested party.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment, Joan Simonet, has highlighted that "the Government will continue to carry out control campaigns to ensure compliance with the law on fisheries, as well as the regulations that refer to agri-food products. The main purpose is to protect the legitimate interests of the sector and consumers and, at the same time, avoid fraud and unfair competition."