Fishing Vessel Removed from Gran Tarajal Due to Marine Contamination Alert
A fishing boat that had been anchored in Gran Tarajal, Fuerteventura, since July 24, has been removed following a marine contamination prealert issued on Wednesday. The vessel arrived at the island carrying 20 Maghreb migrants.
The boat, named ‘Aali’, departed the port at 12:32 today, according to the State Administration’s office in Fuerteventura. The alert from the Canary Islands’ Emergency Directorate was triggered at 22:00 on Wednesday, in line with the regional civil protection emergency plan.
Initially, the boat was scheduled for removal on Tuesday, but a mechanical failure delayed this. Once the issue was fixed and the boat inspected, it was allowed to leave today.
‘U Ali’ had travelled from El Aaiún in Western Sahara and was reported as stolen. The National Police have since arrested the alleged captain, who brought the migrants to Gran Tarajal, including one minor.
The fishing vessel was spotted by coastal surveillance radar at 6:42 am on July 24, situated 24 kilometres from Caleta de Fuste. The rescue vessel Salvamar Ízar escorted it to Gran Tarajal, where the migrants were assisted by the Red Cross.
Local authorities and political groups had called for the boat’s removal, noting concerns about it remaining at the commercial dock, which is vulnerable to southern storms, recalling previous incidents in 2018.
