Three Moroccan fishermen have been sentenced to six months in prison after they were caught by Spain’s Guardia Civil with a 90kg bluefin tuna in waters near Ceuta.
The offence, classified as a crime against wildlife and natural habitats, was confirmed by local newspaper El Faro de Ceuta.
The men, all from the Moroccan village of Beliones, admitted the facts in court and accepted the sentence. Originally set at nine months, the term was reduced to six due to their cooperation.
However, the sentence has been suspended as none of the men have prior criminal records.
Despite avoiding jail for now, they have been banned from entering Ceuta for the next two years, effectively preventing them from fishing in Spanish waters during that period.
If caught again in the area, the suspension will be lifted and they’ll serve the prison time.
The three men had been held in Guardia Civil custody for 24 hours before facing a fast-track trial. The ruling is final and cannot be appealed.
They have since been released and will regain control of their boat, which had been seized by the Maritime Service, but must immediately leave Spanish territorial waters.
The case began on Thursday morning when a Guardia Civil patrol spotted a small boat heading towards the entrance of Ceuta’s port from Moroccan waters.
On board, officers found a specimen of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), a protected species whose capture is banned outside authorised periods.
The Guardia Civil’s environmental unit, Seprona, compiled the technical report that formed the basis of the prosecution.
Spanish law treats crimes against flora and fauna as serious offences. This includes the illegal hunting, fishing, or trade of protected species and can lead to imprisonment, fines, and confiscation of equipment.
Capturing animals out of season or without the proper licences is considered a grave or even very grave infraction.
In this case, the bluefin tuna fishing season officially closed on October 15. Catching the species outside of that window breaches both conservation and fishing laws, with penalties that can reach up to €60,000 or criminal prosecution.
The bluefin tuna is one of the most heavily monitored species in the Mediterranean. It’s a symbol of traditional Andalusian fishing and a prized catch in the Strait of Gibraltar, but strict quotas and controls have been introduced to curb overfishing and protect stocks for future generations.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
