Shrimp boat facing possible charges after FWC inspection
A commercial fishing vessel recently stopped south of Sanibel by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is facing possible federal charges after an inspection of its haul.
On May 17, FWC officers were conducting resource inspections in federal waters approximately 14 nautical miles south of Sanibel in Lee County. They conducted a fisheries inspection on a shrimp boat and discovered in the freezer: a total of 412 lane snapper, more than 350 over the bag limit, with 219 under the legal size; 35 fillets of what is believed to be a species of shark; and one snook head.
Potential federal charges include over the bag limit of lane snapper, possession of undersize lane snapper, shark not in whole condition, no shark permit and no federal reef permit, officials reported. The vessel and crew were also given warnings for various other resource and gear violations.
The FWC noted that the evidence was seized and the results of the investigation will be forwarded to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement.
“The FWC takes potential resource violations very seriously and encourages the public to report them by calling the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922,” Melody Kilborn, public information director of FWC’s Southwest Region Office, said. “Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.”
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email