25 complaints and 300 kilos of mushrooms seized at the beginning of the seasonThe penalties range from 20 euros per kilo to a maximum of 600The collection of wild mushrooms and/or chanterelles in the mountains of Almeria after the regulation by the Junta de Andalucía came into force to preserve sustainability during the first days of the season has led to a total of 25 complaints to the Environment agents and the Civil Guard.
Specifically, as indicated by sources of the Andalusian Government in the first ten days of the control of mushroom collection, about 300 kilos of mushrooms have been seized, which have either been taken to charity centres, or have been delivered to local shepherds for livestock use.
The resolution signed on September 18 by the territorial delegate of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development of the Board in Almería, Aránzazu Martín, prohibits the collection of more than five kilos per person per day .
The sanctions, which depend on the market price of the species, range from 20 euros per kilo to a maximum of 600 euros.
Although the weather conditions of this year "are by no means the most favourable" unlike what happened in previous years, the first weeks of autumn already allowed to detect the presence of mushrooms in the mountains of Almeria , especially in the Sierra de los Filabres which had the majority of precipitation of the 'gota fria'.
During the past season there were a total of 179 complaints that were filed for the illegal collection of mushrooms. In the first month alone, 35 disciplinary proceedings were initiated for the illegal collection of more than 4,000 kilos of mushrooms and chanterelles, mainly in the Sierras de Los Filabres and Sierra Nevada, by organised groups.
The Andalusian Government has authorised until the end of May 2020 the collection of small quantities of mushrooms on forest lands without the express authorisation of the Junta, although under certain conditions.
Thus, the mushrooms collected must be for self-consumption, so they cannot exceed five kilograms of weight per person per day. Such collection will not entail alteration of the surface layer of the soil, so that the use of tools such as rakes, hatches, hoes or other utensils that remove the mulch is expressly prohibited "causing damage to the fungal mycelium, which can prevent appearance of new crops in the future ".
The collection of immature mushrooms is not allowed while respecting the inedible ones, those that are not known or will not be collected because they are in poor condition or past, since "all of them play a useful ecological function", as indicated by the Autonomous administration in the resolution published this Thursday in BOJA.
The collection of mushrooms in darkness is also prohibited, so that consequently the use of flashlights or other sources of artificial light is not allowed. For the collections, baskets or other transport elements that allow aeration and dispersion of the spores will be used.
As a means of prevention, it is also not allowed to drive cross-country vehicles, disturbing wildlife with noises or approaches, or abandoning residues in the bush. Failure to comply with this condition will constitute an administrative infraction that will result in the opening of the corresponding disciplinary proceedings and the confiscation of the mushrooms collected.
Hmmm... 5 kilo of mushrooms per person per day... for self consumption.... not sure about that diet
