Today in the Magistrate's Court, two men went to jail for fisheries offences. Now usually these offences only carry a fine, but brothers, Ergil and Marvin Patt, who both have a history of fisheries crimes, got a custodial sentence when they pled guilty to illegal entry into a protected fishing area near the Half Moon Caye monument, and illegally fishing in the area. The brothers were caught with a lobster bearing eggs as well as 4 juveniles – out of season. Marvin was sentenced to seven months in prison for each charge, while Ergil was sentenced to six months for each charge.

A third fisherman, Medardo Rivera, pled guilty to the same crimes and was charged $1000 for each offense. If he fails to pay the first fine by October 31, and the second by December 30, Rivera will serve six months for each offense.