A TOTAL of 32 people have been charged so far this year in relation to selling fish allegedly from Turkey, which is coming in through the north.
Between January and April of this year, nine infringements were recorded at the Ayios Dhometios checkpoint, where 300 kilos of fish products have been confiscated. Another 23 cases have been recorded at fish markets, restaurants and other selling points for fish.
This number of infringements so far this year is almost as many as were recorded during the whole of last year - 33 cases.
These violations have to do with illegally caught fish, fish products not supported with the proper documentation, stating where their place of origin is, or fish that are undersized.
The violations were discovered after complaints were received or during checks performed by the department of fisheries and marine research, which have recently been increased in line with the growing number of infringements.
“Within the framework of the traceability of fish products, the department of fisheries and marine research conducted inspections at the Ayios Dhometios checkpoint, where fish is allowed to be brought in, and at market areas where fish is sold. At the checkpoint the department detected nine infringements which concern the movement of fish products without the proper documentation or that did not meet the technical requirements,” said Yiannos Kyriacou, senior fisheries officer at the department of fisheries and marine research.
According to law, the only animal product allowed to cross from north to south is fish but the vendor must have documentation stating to where the fish were originally caught. The fish must also be no more than 24 hours out of the sea and be of a minimum size. If there are no documents or if the origin is not stated, then it is considered an infringement.
“The infringements, the quantities of fish, and the species of fish transported through the checkpoint or being sold at different establishments, raise concerns as to the actual origin of the fish. “We have reliable indications that the fish were originally caught in Turkey,” Kyriacou said.
Due to these suspicions, Agriculture Minister Nicos Kouyialis, has given strict instructions to the department of fisheries to investigate the matter further and to conduct stricter checks.
When offenders are detected the fish is confiscated and kept as evidence, and a fine is administered. Checks are made daily but not on a 24-hour basis. Checks are increased during seasons when more fish is consumed or when more people are on holiday and are more likely to fishing.
The department of fisheries and marine research may be looking into creating a working system where members of the department will work in shifts to further increase checks throughout the day.