Justice has initiated a formal investigation against a fisherman who captured and displayed a leopard shark, a species that holds the status of a Natural Monument.
The head of the Environmental Prosecutor’s Unit confirmed that the individual involved is already identified, emphasizing that this measure is crucial to combat crimes against natural heritage.
What began as a strong outcry on social media over the death of the specimen on the provincial coasts escalated into an unprecedented judicial case.
Thanks to a presentation by the Sin Azul No Hay Verde foundation, the Justice of Chubut opened this criminal avenue to punish the extraction of a species with the maximum legal protection.
The animal is protected by Law XI N° 72, a regulation that strictly prohibits its fishing. Impunity was thwarted by the author’s own action, who by posting images of the sacrificed specimen on his public profiles, facilitated and accelerated the procedural times.
A precedent in the defense of the Argentine Sea
Prosecutor Florencia Gómez highlighted the institutional relevance of the case, being the first time a complaint for a protected shark is processed in the province.
The official emphasized the preventive effect of the case, aiming to raise awareness about the protection of species under special laws to prevent their extinction.
The identification of the suspect was immediate thanks to the public exposure of the event and the work of the Rawson Investigations Brigade.
As the offender is a well-known person in the fishing industry, his identification was completed on the same day of the incident.
Procedural stages and determination of jurisdiction
The case is currently in a stage of preliminary investigation, where evidence is being gathered for a potential imputation.
A critical point will be determining the exact coordinates of the capture: this geographical precision will define whether the case remains in the Environmental Prosecutor’s Unit or if, due to jurisdiction, it should be transferred to the Federal Court.
The severe biological impact
From Sin Azul No Hay Verde, they celebrated the speed of the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Juan Coustet, a member of the organization, emphasized that it is vital to move from digital claims to concrete actions to protect the marine fauna.
The complaint reached the foundation through citizen alerts, demonstrating a growing civil commitment.
The damage to the ecosystem is severe: the leopard shark is a top predator with a slow life cycle and low reproduction. Its loss disrupts the balance of the food chain in the Patagonian coast.
The role of the community and the fragility of the species
Coustet noted that many fishermen collaborate in the Conserve Sharks program, a citizen participation initiative for the study of these species.
However, he recalled that these animals are extremely vulnerable to anthropic activities (human activities) due to their late sexual maturation and low fertilization rate.
This judicial advancement represents a before and after in the region, setting a necessary precedent to ensure respect for the great inhabitants of the Argentine Sea.
