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Fisheries Sting Caught Major Out of Season Conch
Mon, September 18, 2017
Tonight the Fisheries Department has almost nine thousand out of season conch which they busted in an operation over the weekend. Based on information, the Fisheries enforcement team went to bust some fishing camps at various cafes on the Lighthouse Reef Atoll.

But when they got to the camps, they just found 20 idle fisherman who claim they hadn't caught much. Supervisor of Enforcement Hampton Gamboa told us more:...

Hampton Gamboa, Fisheries Supervisor of Enforcement
"We went to Lighthouse Reef to conduct search of particular fishing camps. Upon doing that visiting these fishing camps we notice as enforcement officers there wasn't enough product for the amount of days the individuals said they were on site. Upon searching mangrove area approximately a mile away from the fishing camp, we found a freezer hidden within the mangroves. Officers opened the freezer and that was where we found 11 transparent plastic bags with conch in there. It is believe that these plastic bags weigh approximately 50 pounds when it's completely filled which we found them completely filled. Could hardly been tied. Upon searching another mile and half we came across another ice box where we found 9 transparent bags at this time. Upon checking, officers came across 9 plastic bags with conch.

"After operations were concluded in that area, we moved further south to Long Caye, which is the second most southern island on Lighthouse Reef. While dong a search there officers were again aggressively combing inside the mangroves and along the beach when one of our officers came across 2 ice box hidden in the mangroves. These 2 ice box didn't have any bags in it but they were completely filled to the maximum capacity that it could hold."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"How does this make you feel as an enforcement officer to see this volume of conch extracted off season?"

Hampton Gamboa
"As a fisherman son myself, it definitely aches my heart to comprehend the fact that you have people destroying their own industry by these types of careless act as well as greed. It is believe that these product are not destined to our local market. It is believe that more than likely these products will have gone cross border to the Honduran market."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"What you are looking at here is an operation. These guys are running an operation to smuggle, to extract products from Belize's bountiful waters and smuggle it into Honduras?"

Hampton Gamboa
"Yes, that's what we believe is happening out there. It's unfortunate."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"So now will conch be scarce because these guys have been pillaging the seas?"

Hampton Gamboa
"How it will affect the opening of the conch season, traditionally Lighthouse Reef has been one of the most productive area when it comes to conch, especially in the months of October/November when the season just opens. It remains for us to see what will happen next month which is this type of activity been going on throughout the 3 months that was closed. If you look at it from a holistic point of view then you know it's probably a tremendous amount that was transship across the border. If it's true that during the whole closed season, this type of activities were happening."

"To curb this type of operation means we need to have more presence out there. Lighthouse Reef is 50 plus miles away from Belize City. So therefore you have to be onsite for you to observe, for you to be vigilant and for you to curb this type of activity."

"We are grateful for Belize Audubon Society who have helped us in this venture in going out and conducting this operation. They have assisted us with fuel and also with manpower for us to be out there."

In total, the 8,980 pieces of conch weigh a little over one thousand five hundred pounds. On the black market they would fetch a low price of five dollars per pound. Because the conch were found in the mangrove, and not in possession of any person, no one has been charged and the bust has been labelled as found property. When conch season opens the conch will be donated to school feeding programs.

The fishermen suspected to lead the ring are in their 20's and 30's. Fisheries asks anyone who has information on any illegal fishing activity, to call 224-4552.

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