Tonight, 30 year-old Hubert Palacio and 50 year-old Luigi Marin, are out on bail after they were taken to court along with fellow fisherman 43 year-old Mark Sewell in connection with a bust of 431 undersized lobsters which the Fisheries Department made last night.

According to the Fisheries Department, these men were at a fishing camp south of Caye Chapel, when they were busted with the illegal haul. Today, Supervisor Hampton Gamboa explained to us about what led to the raid, and what the effects on the environment this illegal act has caused:

Hampton Gamboa - Fisheries Supervisor, Conservation Compliance Unit
"The public had called us yesterday about 6 or 7 with some reliable information, and we pursued the information last night at around 9 or 10. Fisheries officers went the southern part of Caye Chapel, where on one of these islands, they found a fishing camp. We searched the premise and were able to find 2 iceboxes. One was partially filled, and the other had just a couple lobsters. After the officers proceeded with the procedure weighing each individual, we ended up with 431 undersized lobsters."

Daniel Ortiz
"Can you tell us about the individuals who Fisheries Department has charged for these undersized lobsters?"

Hampton Gamboa
"Well, they are well-known lobster trap fishermen, from the area south of Caye Chapel, in the Belize Judicial District. There have been a few encounters with officers on patrol during the closed season with these same individuals, so, we were finally able, with the assistance of the public, to arrest and charged these individuals. The area is a well-known lobster nursery ground, and you're looking at someone having in their possession well over 400 undersized lobsters, and majority of these lobsters didn't even weigh 3 ounces. So, they are really a portion of the juvenile stock that have been tampered with in this case. That entire area of Caye Chapel, Caye Caulker, and Long Caye is a well-known lobster nursery grounds."

All 3 men were arraigned in Magistrate's Court today for possession undersized lobsters. Palacio and Marin were additionally arraigned for the charge of engaging in commercial fishing without a valid license.

Palacio pleaded guilty to the possession of the illegal lobsters and was fined $500, plus an additional $8,620. He must pay the $500 by October 31, or he will spend 6 months in prison in default. He must pay that other huge fine by the end of the year. If he defaults, a warrant of distress will be issued, and he could risk jail time.