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Today, we found Hampton Gamboa, the supervisor of the Fisheries Department's Conservation Compliance Unit, at the Magistrate's Court preparing to prosecute them. He told us more about the arrest:

Hampton Gamboa - Supervisor, Conversation Compliance Unit

"Yesterday about midday, Belize Coast Guard on patrol out at Clover's Reef atoll at the north part of Clover's Reef atoll came across a black fishing commercial vessel which when they board had on two Honduran occupants and a Belizean occupant. So Coast Guard proceeded by detaining everyone after finding a Nassau Grouper which season is closed for at present and also for the fact that two of the fishermen didn't have a valid fishing license. Coast Guard personnel handed over these individuals to fisheries officers at Middle Caye out at Clover's Reef who then brought in these guys yesterday evening about after 5. So at present we are court to bring charges against these individuals for non-compliance with the fisheries regulation as it relates to conducting fishing in Belize without valid fisher folk license."

"We have suspicion of all three persons that we found there. One we were able to get some GPS information that Coast Guard handed over to us that is the property of these fishermen who been traversing the area and as well as the Belizean individual is known to be facilitating in terms of selling seafood over in Honduras."

All 3 were charged with possession of a Nassau Grouper during the closed season, while Miranda and Vasquez were charged with engaging in commercial fishing while not in possession of a valid fisherman's licenses.

They plead guilty to the charges. They were fined $250 and they were given until April 8 to pay. Miranda and Vasquez were each fined an additional $250 for engaging in illegal commercial fishing. They were given until April 8 to pay. If they default on payment they will serve 2 months. Only Lara was allowed to leave court free.