World · Europe · 56 mins ago
Man detained in Burgos with 1,861 fish taken from the Arlanza River
Spain’s Guardia Civil detained a 37-year-old man in Burgos over fish found in his vehicle.
Officers discovered 1,861 fish taken from the Arlanza River during a vehicle check in June.
The fish included native species such as bermejuela, goby, minnow and chub, as well as non-native sunfish.
Capturing and keeping these fish is prohibited, and investigators said the haul was mass and non-selective.
Many fish were dead or struggling, and authorities said taking so many could seriously disrupt the river’s ecological balance.
The fish were counted and identified at a wildlife recovery centre, and the Guardia Civil sent its investigation to the court in Lerma; the man is suspected of a crime against wildlife.
The Guardia Civil’s Seprona detained a 37-year-old man in Burgos over 1,861 fish taken from the Arlanza River.
He is suspected of an offence against wildlife involving the mass, non-selective extraction of aquatic species.
The fish were found in a vehicle during a preventive inspection in the Arlanza area last June.
The man said he intended to use them as live bait for sea fishing.
Authorities said the extraction could seriously harm the river’s natural environment and ecological balance.
- Who
- A 37-year-old man was detained as a suspected perpetrator of an offence against wildlife.
- What
- Seprona found 1,861 fish taken from the Arlanza River. The man was placed at the disposal of the courts.
- When
- The vehicle inspection took place last June; the reports were published on November 4, 2026.
- Where
- In a vehicle checked at a preventive checkpoint in a locality in the Arlanza area of Burgos.
- Why
- Authorities suspect mass, non-selective extraction of protected or otherwise restricted fish. The man said he intended to use them as live bait for sea fishing.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A Seprona patrol inspecting a vehicle in the Arlanza area found a bucket containing numerous small fish.
The fish were taken to the Albillos Wildlife Recovery Centre for counting and identification.
Seprona sent the case documents to the Lerma court.
Reports on the detention and investigation were published.
- Fish found
- 1,861
- Suspect
- Man aged 37
- River
- Arlanza
- Inspection location
- A preventive checkpoint in a locality in the Arlanza area
- Species reported
- Bermejuela, gudgeon, minnow, chub and sunfish
4 sources
Sorprendido en Burgos con 1.861 ejemplares de peces cuya captura y tenencia está prohibida
Agentes del Seprona investigan a un vecino por la tenencia no justificada de 1.861 peces como bermejuelas, piscardos o cachos extraídos del río Arlanza en Burgos
Detenido en Burgos con casi 2.000 ejemplares de peces cuya captura está prohibida
El Seprona caza a un hombre con 1.861 peces del río Arlanza capturados de forma ilegal