Authorities in northern Greece have arrested three Greek men in their twenties for allegedly illegally catching thousands of sea urchins for sale to seafood restaurants, authorities said Thursday.
A Coast Guard statement said the suspects were taken into custody early Thursday in the port of Alexandroupoli, after officers stopped their car and found 3,584 of the prickly black, spine-covered creatures in the boot, weighing a total 181 kilograms. The urchins were returned to the sea after being counted.
Many seafood restaurants still serve protected marine creatures such as the noble pinna or date mussel molluscs. While sea urchins are not protected, there are strict limitations on catch sizes and fishing seasons.
The Coast Guard statement said that the men arrested Thursday lacked a permit, and that much of their catch was below the minimum size allowed.
Greek law only allows the collection of sea urchins by licensed fishers during daylight hours in January, February, March, July, August and December. An amateur license allows the fishing of up to 30 urchins per day for strictly personal use and a professional license up to 600.
