Fishermen are urged to denounce this type of illegal acts and avoid predation during the reproduction period of this and other marine species.

In an aquatic inspection and surveillance tour yesterday, federal fisheries officials from the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (CONAPESCA) in coordination with elements of the Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR), secured and retained 379 handmade traps for the illegal capture of red lobster, in the vicinity of Todos Santos Island, off the coast of the municipality of Ensenada, Baja California.

In their report, the federal authorities indicate that during the survey, some buoys were observed in the vicinity of Todos Santos Island. Upon approaching, it was discovered that the floating tags were tied to abandoned traps containing live red lobster species.

Immediately after inspection and verification, it was determined that these devices or cages did not meet the specifications established in NOM-006- PESC-1993. Therefore, Conapesca proceeded with the precautionary retention of these cages.

Likewise, 624 live red lobsters were released unharmed. It was explained that 80 percent were smaller than the authorized size and the rest were identified as females in an advanced reproductive process. All specimens were returned to their natural habitat. This species is currently under a temporary ban period, which began on February 16 and ends on September 15 of each year.

SEMAR and CONAPESCA assure that this is the largest seizure of illegal lobster traps ever recorded in the municipality of Ensenada.

This reflects that significant progress has been made in fisheries inspection and surveillance, with the participation of inter-institutional efforts, but above all with the denunciation made by fishermen.

In this sense, the Federal Government urges men and women involved in fishing and/or biological research of flora and fauna to report any irregularity, in order to guarantee the development and sustainable use of national maritime resources.