Around 55 kilograms of fingerlings have been seized and destroyed during inspections in the last five years, and fines totalling around 21.000 euros have been imposed for illegal fishing of this protected species of scallop.
This was told to "Vijesti" by the Directorate for Fisheries at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management.
The editorial team has been informed that these days, certain catering establishments on the coast are offering this protected species to their guests, the fishing and marketing of which is strictly prohibited. Reportedly, the fingerlings are being offered for 90 euros per kilogram.
In addition to announcing that inspectors will conduct field surveillance, the Directorate of Fisheries also said that they have information that such cases occur sporadically.
"In such situations, the inspection responds as a priority, and during regular inspections, special attention is paid to this issue. Any evidence of the presence of protected species in the offer, including the smallest traces, constitutes grounds for taking legal measures against the subjects of supervision. Our department, in cooperation with the Fisheries Inspectorate and the Border Police, continues intensive controls and activities aimed at combating illegal fishing," she told "Vijesti". Katarina Burzanović, Director General of the Directorate of Fisheries.
As she added, the new Draft Law on Marine Fisheries also provides for significantly stricter penalties to further discourage such practices.
According to her, in the last five years, 14 legal entities and responsible persons, and four natural persons, have been sanctioned for illegal fishing of fingerlings.
A total of approximately 21.200 euros in fines were imposed.
"The fines amounted to 1.000 euros for legal entities, 750 euros for individuals and 300 euros for responsible persons. In addition to the fines, around 56 kilograms of fingerlings were permanently confiscated and legally destroyed," said Buraznović.
The Directorate of Fisheries adds that, in addition to fingerlings, they have also recorded the problem of illegal fishing of sea cucumbers, also a protected species, in the previous period.
"Unlike Przateci, where cases still occur occasionally, we have, according to current information, largely managed to bring this problem under control. In two recent cases, inspectors and border police sanctioned two individuals, and the prosecutor's office initiated criminal proceedings against one of them due to the seized quantity," Burzanović told "Vijesti".
From the department he leads Vladimir Jokovic They appealed to citizens and guests to refuse to consume fingerlings and other protected species, and to report any suspicions or information to the competent inspectorates.
"We urge caterers to inform themselves about the extent of the damage that such activities cause, not only through the destruction of individuals that grow in the rock for decades (fingerlings take from 50 to 100 years to reach consumer size), but also through the erosion of the rocky coast and the disruption of the marine ecosystem. Illegal fishing directly threatens the biodiversity of the sea, but also the long-term sustainability of tourism in Montenegro, because our guests will choose and visit us only if they can enjoy preserved nature and a healthy marine environment," said Burzanović.
Regarding the claim that finger foods are being offered in a specific catering facility (the name is known to the editorial staff), the environmental inspection told "Vijesti" that the initiative for action has also been sent to the state prosecutor's office.
"As the species of clams - finger clam (Lithophaga lithophaga - Latin name) has been placed under protection by the Decision on placing certain plant and animal species under protection of the Institute for Nature Protection, and as it is accordingly considered a protected species in accordance with the Law on Nature Protection, and as Articles 309, 310, 311 and 312 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro prescribe criminal offenses related to the killing and torture of animals, possession of animals and destruction of their habitats, and related to the export and import of protected natural assets and specially protected plants and animals and trading in them, the initiative has been submitted for information to the competent Basic State Prosecutor's Office in order to determine whether in this specific case there is a basis for undertaking activities within the jurisdiction of the prosecutor's office and for undertaking criminal prosecution ex officio. The fisheries inspection has also been informed of the initiative in question," she told "Vijesti". Vesna Bigović, coordinator of the ecological inspection.
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