- Large quantities of frozen fish were found in commercial plastic bags, without identification or labels.
- Several violations of regulations governing the initial sale of seafood products have been reported.
- The operation was carried out by SEPRONA, with the support of the Regional Fisheries and Aquaculture Service of Murcia (CARM).
Murcia, April 23, 2025 – The Guardia Civil of the Region of Murcia, in collaboration with the Fisheries and Aquaculture Service of the Murcia Regional Government (CARM), has discovered a large quantity of fish lacking traceability during an inspection at a restaurant in La Unión.
This operation falls within the framework of the Annual Comprehensive Control Plan for Fishing Activities (PACIAP), aimed at combating both the illegal capture and commercialisation of seafood.
The investigation began when environmental specialists from the Guardia Civil’s Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) coordinated with the Fisheries and Aquaculture Service to conduct a series of inspections focused on detecting irregularities in the fishing sector.
During an inspection of a restaurant in La Unión, officers found 32 kilograms of frozen fish of various species hidden in kitchen freezers. The fish was unlabelled, unidentified, and wrapped in commercial plastic bags.
The restaurant owners were unable to provide documentation verifying the legal origin of the fish. Consequently, the inspection team immediately seized the 32 kilograms of fish, placing it under the custody of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Service.
Following veterinary inspection by CARM, which certified the fish as safe for human consumption, the seized fish was donated to a local charitable organization.
Meanwhile, SEPRONA officers have filed several reports against the restaurant owners for violations of regulations governing the initial sale of seafood products.
Support from the Fisheries and Aquaculture Service
The uncovered illegal activity has been reported to the Murcia Department of Water, Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Environment, through its Fisheries and Aquaculture Service, which supported the Guardia Civil during the operation.
Authorities emphasize that clandestine seafood commercialization poses a serious health risk to consumers, as the origin and storage conditions of the products are unknown, compromising the cold chain and food safety standards.
