7 News Belize

Red Light Lobster
posted (February 19, 2016)
The Belize Coast Guard, while doing one of their regular patrols in Turneffe near Crayfish Caye came upon a vessel that was harvesting illegal out of season lobster tails. They were busted with quite a substantial amount- 243 lobster tails to be exact. Authorities say that the three men on the vessel- George Marin, 53, Angel Tun, 24, and Raymond Petzul, 30- were spotted throwing lobster traps overboard. Coast Guard personnel asked for their fishing licenses but the captain of the fishing vessel said he had his license back at their camp- the place where they were hoarding their illegal catch. Lieutenant Gregory Soberanis told us more.

Lt. Gregory Soberanis, First Fleet Commander
"Upon reaching the fishing camp, a search was conducted at the camp where the Coast Guard team discovered hidden among the lobster pots a white ice box containing 243 lobster tails and a parrot fish or a grazer. Our team knew exactly that at that moment that the products were illegal as you know lobster season is closed and that the harvesting of the parrot fish in itself an illegal activity. They called Coast Guard headquarters and they were instructed to bring the individuals and the products to mainland where they were handed over to the Fisheries Department for prosecution."

Hampton Gamboa, Fisheries Dept.
"They were charged for possession of lobster during the close season and it was 243 lobster that they were found with. They were fined and penalized by the magistrate for the possession during the close season."

Emanuel Pech
"What sort of fine?"

Hampton Gamboa, Fisheries Dept.
"They were fined $500 plus $5 cost of court for committing the offence and $20 for each lobster tail. Which amounts to just a little bit over $5,000 Belize. We just want to encourage the public that lobster season has closed and anyone found during this closed season with lobsters will also be fined and penalized through the court system."

Emanuel Pech
"What sort of other penalties with the men be subjected to? Will their license be revocated?"

Hampton Gamboa, Fisheries Dept.
"At present that's one of the tools we are moving towards as it relates to managing our fishing industry. We are trying to ensure that we find other means and ways that we can penalize additional penalties that we can imposed when it comes to these fishers. Because these gentlemen once they pay their fine in court and everything, since it was their first offence, then they will be able to also retain their vessels in the first instance. In the second instance, the magistrate can confiscate their vessel and tackles and gears."

Emanuel Pech
"What is the rate of activity? In terms of last years' do you see more of these activities or less?"

Hampton Gamboa, Fisheries Dept.
"I must say especially our lobster trap fishermen, there are a lot of them that complies heavily as it relates to a lot of them being in the industry for a long time, they are the ones that are really pushing and ensuring that their people don't go out and work the lobsters and then of course with more patrols added to the closed season - that will definitely help us curb and reduce those activities which we have seen went down significantly over the past 5-8 years to present. It has gone down tremendously."

The three men are all residents of the Belama phase 2 area. They appeared in court today before Magistrate Deborah Rogers where they were jointly charged with one count of possession of lobster in the closed season.

Initially all three men pleaded not guilty to the charge and bail of $1,000 each was offered to them. They were taken to the holding cell so they could post bail. But within half an hour, the men were escorted back into court where one of the three changed their plea. Petzold who told the court that he does not have time to be coming back and forth to court on the matter.

He said he was guilty of the charge while Marin and Tun maintained a not guilty plea. When he pleaded guilty Gamboa withdrew the charges from Marin and Tun. As you heard, he was fined $5,365.00 which he has to pay by June 30, 2016, or in default of payment, serve eight months in prison.

As for the illegal catch, fisheries says they are yet to decide how they will dispose of them. However Gamboa told us that they have several feeding programs on their list that they are thinking of donating the lobster tails to.

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