crime
Illegal fishing in Coiba
Park rangers patrolling the waters of Parque Nacional Coiba (PNC) have caught another boat Naves América, S.A. boat fishing illegally in the area.
The company was not only in flagrant violation of a law prohibiting tuna fishing in the park, it was using illegal lines to catch the fish.
The chairman of Naves América, Fotis Lymberópulos, is a member of the board of directors of Panama's water resource authority, the Autoridad de los Recursos Acuáticos (Arap), which is responsible for protecting coastal and aquatic resources.
The boats America VI and America IX were caught fishing illegally in the park last May, and Naves América is expected to be sanctioned and fined for the offense. However, some suspect that the company will get off lightly because of Lymberópulosīs political connections.
More recently, rangers surprised América IV around the island of Jicarón. Carrizo said this latest crime was particularly troubling because the crew cut its lines and tried to escape when it saw park officials approaching.
This is the third time in less than two months that the company has been caught fishing illegally in the park.
In response to the latest offense, Anam will send a complaint directly to the Ministerio Público. Arap could revoke the company's fishing license.
Lymberópulos has not appeared at Anam’s office in Veraguas to make a declaration regarding the case.
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