Hunting down blue crab poachers in the Llobregat Delta

Llobregat DeltaSergi stands atop a wooden tower from where he can see almost the entire Llobregat Delta. However, he never takes his eyes off the binoculars he wears around his neck, which he uses to inspect the area. He joined the Rural Agents less than three years ago, and one of his tasks is to monitor this area, declared a natural interest site near El Prat Airport.

On one side is the mouth of the Sant Climent stream, and on the other, Remolar beach, which is closed for a few months of the year to facilitate nesting in the area by the black-backed spur, a protected bird with a wingspan of about 40 centimeters. Today, Sergi's mission is precisely to ensure that no one crosses the fenced perimeter to preserve this species. The entrance to the area has been closed since March, and the regulations have paid off: the lice hatched during the spring, and they have been able to ensure that no one disturbs them during their first months of life.

A few meters away and with the constant sound of the planes flying over the delta are Jordi, Mar and Abel, who have also recently joined the force. They are part of the 200 members who have joined the Rural Agents in the last two years with the goal of Catalonia having a staff of 900 rural agents by 2030.

A series of rods meticulously placed next to each other at the edge of the stream catches their attention. Although at first glance they may look like branches, when they get closer they see that they have threads stuck to the tips. "That means someone has been fishing for blue crab illegally," warns Mar. That's what they call shellfish gathering: When poachers attach pieces of chicken to the end of their lines, creating a rather rudimentary but effective fishing rod. Officials explain that, despite being prohibited, this activity is common in the area.

Sometimes the strategy for capturing specimens of this crustacean goes further. A few meters from the structure of reeds, a cloth mesh sticks out, which when removed from the water reveals its true shape. It is a crab trap made from an umbrella. The agents cut the material and take it to the central station. This time the perpetrators of the fishing gear were not in the area, but if they were found, the agents would report them and all this could lead to the opening of a sanctioning file.

"People who carry out activities such as shellfish gathering They do it for personal consumption or to sell the product illegally," explains Jordi Miranda, deputy inspector of the force and head of the Llobregat Delta area, which has about fifteen officers. Miranda admits that there are also cases of illegal fishing and hunting (mainly of birds) in the area.

"In recent months, we've had a large volume of work in the delta's protected areas due to the inappropriate use of the space, as there are areas with limited access to protect flora and fauna that many people don't respect. Some do so deliberately, while others do so out of ignorance," says Abel, who before joining the force was part of a fire prevention, surveillance, and extinguishing unit.

Since January 1, a total of 529 actions have been carried out in the delta, and 134 reports have been filed. These actions are primarily part of the Plan to Strengthen Surveillance in Specially Protected Natural Areas, which aims to increase the presence of rural agents in protected areas.

Protection of flora

Remolar beach is not the only area in the Llobregat Delta that is being closed to protect its ecosystems: the natural treasure of Ricarda is also closed during certain months, and the Ca l'Arana lake area is closed year-round. On the other side of the river where the officers found the illegal crab traps, there is another restricted area. In this case, the reason for the measure is to protect the ecosystem.Orovanche foetida, a parasitic plant that grows from another sister species, theOnonis natrix. Without one, the other cannot survive; therefore, it is necessary to protect the entire ecosystem of the area to ensure its survival.

Despite the restrictions, footprints reveal that someone has been wandering around. Because of situations like these, the agents are calling for a more effective system to close access. "There is an influx of people here all year round. If we don't properly preserve this space, we will lose the ecological value of the Llobregat Delta," Sergi laments. However, so far, surveillance has allowed the recovery of some species, such as theEchium arenarium, a plant with violet flowers that had never been found in the area. The population of the plant has also been revived.Achillea maritima: A year and a half ago only one specimen had been found and now about fifteen have flowered.