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Fines For Out of Season Lobster Fishers
posted (April 23, 2015)
Two weeks ago, we told you how the Fisheries Department caught 45 year-old Kirk Barrow and 18 year-old Jim Ramirez, two fishermen well known to the department for breaking the fisheries laws. They were intercepted on April 10 off Caye Chapel with a small portion of out-of-season lobster. They threw the majority of their catch overboard. Well tonight, they are facing fines after being taken to Magistrate's Court.

They were arraigned today before Magistrate Herbert Panton for fisheries offences, and they decided to plead guilty to all counts. The authorities charged them with engaging in commercial fishing without a valid licenses, using a vessel for commercial fishing without a valid boat license, and possession of 3 out-of-season lobsters. They were fined a total of $700 dollars for all the charges, and if they default of payment, they will serve 6 months in jail.

As we reported, at around 3:30 p.m. ON APRIL 10TH, a team of fisheries officers were on patrol within Caye Chapel area when they saw 3 men who were in a 25 foot skiff. The vessel sped off when the officers approached and the officers pursued them. One the men jumped into the sea and escaped while the other two were apprehended.

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