Authorities have arrested four individuals for illegal fishing in the Tabarca Marine Reserve, located off the coast of Santa Pola. The arrests followed a surveillance operation by the Civil Guard, which detected a suspicious semi-rigid boat leaving the reserve. The vessel was intercepted in the vicinity of La Manga, where officers discovered three hundred kilograms of fish onboard, including species that are protected under conservation laws.

Investigation revealed that the suspects, aged between twenty-five and forty years, had previous convictions for illegal fishing in the Mediterranean. The perpetrators had reportedly employed unlicensed underwater fishing techniques and used firearms to capture a variety of species, including grouper and octopus, during a critical breeding season.

The operation was part of a concerted effort to control illegal fishing practices, which pose a serious threat to marine biodiversity and public health. The Civil Guard confiscated the illegal catch, fishing equipment, and the vessel used in the operation. The fish, auctioned at the Cartagena fish market, raised five thousand euros, which has been donated to a charitable organisation.

The Civil Guard continues to monitor fishing activities in the region as part of an annual control plan, ensuring the protection of marine ecosystems and the enforcement of fishing regulations. Inspections at restaurants are being conducted to ensure the safe consumption of fish and to prevent fraud related to illicitly sourced seafood.