Chania: Fish stolen from ELKETHE aquaculture facilities

In the early morning of Monday, August 10, the Central Port Authority of Chania received notification from an employee of the Hellenic Center for Marine Research that two individuals were removing fish with nets from aquaculture cages in Souda Bay. The notification set in motion an operation that resulted just hours later at the harbor of Almyrida, with two arrests and seizure of boats, vehicles, and fishing equipment. This is one of the largest aquaculture product theft cases recorded in the area.

The operation involved the patrol vessel LS 414, the Special Missions Squad, and the Rapid Response Team. Two boats, two vehicles, one trailer, nets, and three grinders with residue under investigation as possible cannabis were seized. Also found were 210 kilos of sea bream and sea bass, which, according to the port authority statement, will be donated to charitable organizations. The two arrested individuals are Greeks, ages 33 and 27, and are accused of the thefts.

According to the port authority, the 33-year-old fell into the sea when the pursuit vessels approached, before finally surrendering. The investigation was subsequently extended to material from security cameras at the facility, which revealed evidence of two additional thefts in the preceding period. On Tuesday, August 11, it was announced that the two arrested individuals would be brought before a magistrate on Wednesday, where the court would determine the continuation of the case.

Cumulatively, the three thefts linked to the same case involve over 850 kilos of fish, with an estimated value exceeding €10,600. The aquaculture cages belong to ELKETHE facilities in Souda Bay, where farming also serves research purposes. The enclosed bay, with limited visibility during nighttime hours, makes guarding the floating units particularly demanding for those who manage them.