Tarpon fishing for consumption or sale is illegal in Belize. It's a species designated for catch and release only. That's why these pictures, posted on Facebook, caused outrage among conservation-minded Belizeans who saw it.
In the first picture, a man, who is obviously hiding his face to conceal his identity, is posing with a massive fish. Experts tell us that the size indicates that this is an elderly Tarpon specimen.
In the next picture, the poster is boasting about a dish he created using tarpon that was illegally caught.
We have since contacted Fisheries Administrator Beverly Wade about the post. She told us that indeed, an offense was committed. She added that digital proof like this has been used before in the prosecution of cases, but, those prosecutions were unsuccessful. The problem is that the Fisheries Department must provide the court with stronger evidence that the social media posters were the ones who actually committed the illegal fishing offense.
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This week a taxi driver was arrested on Cayo's Black Rock Road for carrying out a regular run. And today we asked Commissioner Williams how many Taxi men countrywide have been charged and whether they're allowed to be working at all.
Jules Vasquez, reporter "Ok now I know in Cayo I heard there has also been an arrest for a taxi that they caught on Black Rock road who was making a regular run not an emergency run per se because those are the only things permitted essential services would you explain. Have you all charged multiple people for running taxis on regular runs?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police "Taxi men have to understand that while yes they can run they can only run on call and the call must be one that is of emergency it cannot be an ordinary run and so if it is that they’re out there doing routine taxiing then that is not permissible under the regulations."
Tarpon fishing for consumption or sale is illegal in Belize. It's a species designated for catch and release only. That's why these pictures, posted on Facebook, caused outrage among conservation-minded Belizeans who saw it.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police