"We have an incredible adventure for true monster seekers". With that phrase, a tourism company in Lanzarote sold the capture of protected marine species as if it were a fair attraction.
150 Euros to Hunt What the Law Prohibits
Extreme Fishing Territory offered "extreme fishing" excursions both day and night. For 150 euros, tourists could get on a boat, capture hammerhead sharks, shortfin mako, and rays, bring them to shore, and take photos for social media.
All this in Lanzarote, an island declared a Biosphere Reserve.
Dozens of Evidence on Social Media
The business owner, Óscar Benéitez Pérez, posted the captures on Facebook and Trip Advisor. The images showed clients posing with the animals, and even the organizer himself biting the fin of a shark. When the complaints reached the authorities, many of these posts were deleted, but the complainants had already collected dozens of photographs.
Comments on Trip Advisor confirm it: "I managed to catch a big stingray", "You have the possibility to catch an authentic beast and give yourself the fight of your life".
Two Complaints, One Open Investigation
Latitud Azul and the association ADACIS filed a complaint for:
- Marketing of species from recreational fishing
- Use of vehicles on protected beaches
- Glorification of fishing of species whose capture is prohibited
- Dissemination of illegal captures on social media
- Use of drones during the activity
SEPRONA (Nature Protection Service of the Civil Guard) opened an investigation to specify judicial actions through criminal proceedings. The Lanzarote Island Council opened a file and escalated it to the Government of the Canary Islands and the Environmental Prosecutor's Office.
A Business with International Reach
According to the complaints, this practice had been ongoing at least since 2020. The case reached international media: a publication in an English medium spread the story of an Irish family that traveled to Lanzarote to capture nursehound, a species in danger of extinction.
In addition to Lanzarote, the accused offered "fishing adventures" in Ceuta, Gibraltar, South Africa, Cape Verde, Angola, and Mozambique.
The Canary Islands Needs Real Protection
While science works to protect shark and ray populations in Canarian waters, businesses like this destroy them for 150 euros. Marine conservation is not compatible with tourist exploitation of protected species.
From Latitud Azul, we will continue reporting every case. The sea has no price.
