Tuesday afternoon, Coast Guard crews stopped the lancha and four Mexican fishermen engaged in illegal fishing. The lancha, eight red snapper totaling 30 lbs, and illegal fishing gear were seized. The Mexican fishermen were detained and transferred to border enforcement agents.
"This is not only a natural resource issue, it is a sovereignty issue,” said Rear Adm. Dave Callahan, the Coast Guard 8th District commander when commenting on recent lancha activity. “The United States loses red snapper fish stock every year to illegal fishing in our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The annual amount of illegal red snapper represents over $11 million dollars in lost revenue to U.S. commercial fisherman in the Gulf of Mexico. We will to continue to aggressively enforce laws and regulations, and deter this and other illicit activity that occurs on and around the U.S.- Mexico maritime boundary line."
Subscribe
LEAVE A COMMENT