On the 22nd of January, as part of an inspection action, the Faro Maritime Police intercepted two recreational vessels and one vessel registered in the professional fishery, in full harvesting cockle activity. The vessels were in the secondary spring channel of access to the Barra de São Luis (Barrinha), in the Ria Formosa.
According to the release made by e Maritime Police on the site of the National Maritime Authority, the arrest happened by navigation in protected area and by excess of the captured quantity and transport of the same in recreational boat. Further advancing that the bivalves, because they are still alive, were returned to their natural habitat in the Ria Formosa.
The operation had five elements of the Maritime Police, supported by two 4×4 bikes and one vessel of the Maritime Police of Faro.
Earlier days, the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Tavira also confiscated on the beaches of Tavira, Barril and Barra da Fuzeta, 80 kg of cockle, 25 kg of clams, four illegal hand pickers and a xalavar, as part of a policing action directed at fishing gear.
