The Fisheries Inspection Service opens 14 sanctioning files for alleged infringements

The Department of Economy and General Services of the Insular Council of Menorca, through the Fisheries Inspection Service, has completed the report of the results of the control, inspection and administrative procedures for the year 2023 of the activity of sea fishing, shellfishing and aquaculture on the island of Menorca.

From the fishing service, fishing licenses are also processed, assistance is given to sport fishing championships and tests, technical reports, meetings and courses are drawn up, water samples and analyzes are taken, as well as campaigns information During 2023, 1,596 individual recreational sea fishing licenses, 659 boat licenses and 202 spearfishing licenses were processed, reaching a total of 2,457.

For the management of fishing surveillance and inspection, the CIM service has two inspectors and three fish wardens, and has a fleet of two boats and three inspection and surveillance vehicles, supervising professional and recreational boats. During 2023, inspectors carried out 566 inspection days, of which 217 were dedicated to professional fishing, 321 to recreational fishing trips, 14 to restaurants and 14 to markets and fishmongers. Of all these, 309 have been carried out in coves and ports, 56 outings by boat and 28 with the support of a drone.

In the 566 inspection days carried out, 77 acts were issued, of which 18 are for alleged commission of infringement. In addition, 490 trips have been made by the Council's fisheries wardens, which consist of routine actions. 15 acts were issued, 5 of them for alleged violations.

In this way, out of the 23 acts raised for alleged fishing infringements (inspectors and fisheries wardens), disciplinary proceedings have been opened in 14 cases. Of the remaining 9, the Insular Council is not the competent body to process the disciplinary file in 4 cases and in others there is no violation, or the file is in the preliminary action phase.

Final sanction files processed in 2023

In addition, during the year 2023 the Department of Economy and General Services of the CIM processed 16 sanctioning files in the field of fishing. Of the 16, 2 correspond to acts raised in 2021, 2 from 2022 and 10 from 2023, imposed by CIM inspectors, Seprona and the Local Police of Sant Lluís i Maó. Of these 16, 14 have finally had a financial penalty and 2 have not had an infringement.