Agrigento, poaching in Palma di Montechiaro: 400 specimens of urchins saved and thrown back into the sea
Agrigento, during the night of 13 August, in Palma di Montechiaro, in the “Marina di Palma” area, personnel employed by the State Police, together with military personnel from the Port Authority of Licata, identified and stopped four illegal fishermen of origin from Syracuse caught collecting sea urchins.
In particular, the agents of the PS Commissariat of Palma di Montechiaro, during the control activity of the territory, at approximately 01:00, received the report that, in the aforementioned seaside village, the presence of some subjects at sea had been noticed.
Once they arrived on site, the agents carried out careful observation, following which they proceeded to check and identify four subjects, all from Syracuse, who were found in possession of approximately 400 specimens of sea urchins, together with still wet diving equipment. During the search, two packages containing gr. were also found. 4.85 of a narcotic substance probably of the "hashish" type.
The agents, assisted by the staff of the Port Authority of Licata, proceeded to seize the equipment used for fishing and the narcotic substance. As for the hedgehogs, the timely intervention of the operatives allowed them to be recovered while still alive. Therefore they were seized and immediately thrown back into the sea.
The intervention of the State Police together with the Port Authority allowed the poaching fishermen to be sanctioned with a fine of 8.000,00 euros and the molluscs to be returned to their marine environment.
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