Pirates of the Med: the Mafia-style poachers threatening endangered fish

The Calanques national park was targeted by a gang who sold fish to smart restaurants. Now in a landmark case, they will pay 'environmental damages'

Johan Jimenez stood on a cliff, peering through binoculars at a picturesque inlet in this unspoiled corner of the Mediterranean near Marseille.

"They don't think anyone is watching from up here on land," said the armed guard from the environmental police, scanning the rocks below for day-trippers casually dropping fishing lines into its protected waters. "But we can always get down there to stop them."