“The Portuguese Navy and the National Maritime Authority carried out yesterday [Wednesday], January 4, a joint action aimed at the practice of embarked fishing off the Algarve coast, having detected a fishing vessel in an irregular situation”, according to the National Maritime Authority.

The elements of the local command of the Maritime Police of Faro, who were on board the ship NRP Dragão, from the Navy, were supervising a trawling vessel, flying the Spanish flag, “which was found to be in an irregular situation because it was engaged in fishing activities during the off-season”.

The National Maritime Authority stated that the vessel contained "about 100 kilograms of shellfish" inside, and was directed to the port of Vila Real de Santo António, where the Maritime Police "proceeded to report the seizure of shellfish, as a precautionary measure”.

According to the statement, the seized shellfish was later delivered to the Fishing Dock auction to be sold.