Cockroach elimination on a fishing vessel in Cartagena

The presence of cockroaches on board a fishing vessel represents a serious threat to crew health and food safety. These insects can contaminate the catch and severely damage the ship’s reputation. For this reason, it is essential to act quickly and contact professional pest control services to eradicate the problem safely and effectively.

Real case: infestation on a fishing vessel in Cartagena

In this case, the skipper of a fishing vessel decided to hire our services after realising that the infestation had got out of hand. As often happens, he first tried to solve the problem with commercial insecticides, but after several weeks the situation worsened, revealing the need for a professional treatment.

Taking advantage of the autumn 2025 biological fishing closure—a period when fishermen stop their activity to allow fish populations to recover—we scheduled the intervention for 9 a.m. outside the Cofradía de Pescadores de Cartagena (Murcia).

We began with a thorough inspection in all areas of the vessel where cockroaches had been seen: cabins, wheelhouse, galley and storerooms. The main focus was found in the wheelhouse and the galley, the areas most affected by the infestation.

Although the presence in the cabins was low, we carried out a preventive treatment, eliminating possible mites in the mattresses and other organisms. During the inspection, we observed that cockroaches had colonised the wheelhouse, hiding in wooden furniture and cardboard boxes, ideal places due to their warmth, humidity and availability of food.

We applied the biocide with precision to ensure that the product reached every corner and guaranteed a lethal effect on the entire colony. Finally, we treated the vessel’s galley, where traces of activity were also detected.

Final recommendations

Although the safety period of the biocides used is 12 hours, we advise the skipper to wait a few days before returning and carrying out the planned deep cleaning. This measure allows the high residual effect of the product to complete its action, especially on hidden nymphs, ensuring total eradication of the infestation.

Do you have a similar problem on your vessel or in your business? Contact us and let our pest control experts restore cleanliness and peace of mind to your environment.