They filleted their fish at sea. That’s against the law, Coast Guard says
The U.S. Coast Guard stopped a sport fishing boat off Key Largo Monday and found several conservation violations, including the importation of queen conch, the harvest of which has been illegal in Florida since the 1980s, according to the agency.
A boarding party from the Cutter Charles David, Jr. pulled over the vessel, the Salt Shaker II, about 13 miles southeast of Key Largo and found 10 fillets of snapper and grouper, and 26 fillets of wahoo “in illegal carcass condition,” according to the Coasg Guard, meaning the fish were filleted at sea.
Officer Bobby Dube, a spokesman with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said any fish that has a legal bag limit, meaning anglers can only keep a certain amount, must be brought back to shore whole.
The Coast Guard crew also found about 10 pounds of queen conch.
The much sought-after mollusk cannot be harvested in the United States because it has been over fished. And, there are several counties from where it cannot be imported under U.S. law, including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“Before trade can resume with these countries, they must implement specific long-term conservation measures to sustainably manage queen conch populations in their waters,” according to a Fish and Wildlife Service fact sheet.
The Bahamas is on the list of countries where importation of queen conch is allowed, but private vessels cannot import the mollusks.
“Our marine resources are extremely valuable to the public and our nation, Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Erin Erin Woods, Living Marine Resources officer at Sector Key West, said in a statement. “Boaters and fishermen are reminded to familiarize themselves with the fishing regulations to make sure they are complying with federal law.”
It was not immediately clear where the Salt Shaker II is based or from where it was coming. There are several vessels registered with that name.
The Coast Guard said it escorted the boat back to shore, where wildlife officers waited to question the crew. The evidence was given to the National Marine Fisheries Service, which will determine if an official notice of violation will be issued.
This story was originally published February 6, 2020 at 6:07 AM.
