PF and ICMBio launch operation to combat illegal fishing in Arraial do Cabo | Arraial do Cabo – Rio de Janeiro

Cable camp – The Federal Police launched, this Friday (2), Operation Sardinella Brasiliensis, together with ICMBio, to combat environmental crimes in the Arraial do Cabo Marine Extractive Reserve (Resex), in the Lagos Region.

In the action, the teams monitored the path of an industrial vessel that had just launched around 10,000 meters of longline, fishing gear that cannot be used inside the Resex as it is in complete disagreement with current environmental legislation.

During the approach, it was also possible to verify that the aforementioned vessel did not have a license for the type of fishing practiced, a fact that led to the arrest of the boat driver, who was sent to the Federal Police Station in Cabo Frio for the customary procedures.

Furthermore, the vessel was taken to the Arraial do Cabo Fisherman’s Marina, where it was charged and seized along with the fish and fishing gear found inside. Furthermore, the boat owners were fined around R$16,000.

The longline consists of a fishing device that works passively, using bait to attract fish. This type of fishing is prohibited for industrial vessels that do not have the appropriate license to operate within the Arraial do Cabo Marine Reserve, as it violates the current Management Plan and Environmental Management Agreement.

Joint operations like this are regularly carried out by the Federal Police and ICMBio, forming part of an initiative planned by the institutions since 2018 with the purpose of preserving the ecosystem and fauna present in the Arraial do Cabo Marine Extractive Reserve.

On the way, the team was surprised by a group of dolphins that accompanied the vessel.