Italy Tightens Grip On Illegal Bluefin Sales

The Italian Coast Guard has intensified its checks in the last two months in Western Sicily. They confiscated over 19 tons of bluefin that were captured illegally. In one case, officials seized over two tons of bluefin, that was offered for sale at a fresh market in Palermo, a town in Sicily. The origin could not be traced and it was sold in precarious hygienic-sanitary conditions. In another incident, bluefin was transported without proper catch documentation. The authorities also made checks in the ports. They seized 93 bluefin specimens from different Italian ports without necessary documents. The perpetrators were sanctioned over EUR 100,000. Earlier this month, over 14 people were admitted to hospitals in Alcamo after consuming tainted bluefin, one of the reasons why authorities intensified the checks. “These intense controls highlight the authorities' commitment to combating illegal fishing and the sale of bluefin. The Coast Guard, through its activity, seeks not only to protect fish resources but also to guarantee the food safety of consumers,” reported Italian news sites.