The Australian Government has congratulated Spanish authorities for taking action against several Spanish nationals and companies involved in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Southern Ocean.
Two intensive investigations by Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the Spanish Civil Guard’s Environmental Protection Service have resulted in penalties being imposed and charges being laid for a range of criminal offences.
These include IUU fishing, environmental crimes, money-laundering, fraud and operating under an organised criminal group structure.
Australian agencies including the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and the Australian Border Force continue to support Spanish authorities in these investigations. This includes working through INTERPOL and by providing information gathered during recent Australian boardings of the IUU vessels with links to Spanish nationals.
Under Operation Sparrow, an intensive investigation into numerous Spanish companies and more than 20 individuals, penalties amounting to €16.75 million were imposed as well as fishing bans from between five to 23 years and prohibitions on obtaining subsidies or government support from five to 26 years.
Operation Yuyus has resulted in six individuals being arrested. Several more are under investigation, five business offices and homes were recently searched with money and assets seized.
