Sernapesca, Navy Seize 1,000 Meters of Hidden Spider Crab Nets Days Before Season Opens

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Last Friday, Chile's Servicio Nacional de Pesca y Acuicultura, or Sernapesca, revealed that it, alongside the Chilean Navy, had uncovered 1,000 meters (about 3,281 feet) of spider crab nets during a routine inspection aboard a vessel two days before the start of the spider crab season.

According to Sernapesca, the only authorized method for catching spider crabs is using baited traps or pots. The discovery triggered an immediate enforcement response given the timing and scale of the gear found.

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