Florida fishermen, shot and poisoned dolphins, sentenced to prison

A Florida fisherman has been sentenced to one month’s imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of $ 51,000 after shooting dolphins attracted to grazed fishing lines from boats he ran, according to the authorities.

For Statement from US Advocate Office, Northern District of FloridaZackery Brandon Barfield, 31, became “frustrated that dolphins eat red snapper from the lines from his charter fishing clients.” He took the matter in his own hands and began to place (very toxic) metomyl in the beet fish to poison the dolphins that pop up near his boat. ”

According to the statement, which noted that the crimes took place in 2022 and 2023, he also used a “12-gauge shotgun to shoot the dolphins” on several occasions, including once when the elementary school students traveled in his ship and another occasion when he had “more than a dozen” colleagues on board.

Acting US lawyer Michelle Spaven called Barfield’s actions “selfish” and “cruel” in his statement. She added that they were “serious violations of public resources, threats to the local ecosystem and devastating injury on a very intelligent and charismatic species.”

“Barfield was a long -standing charter and commercial fishing captain. He knew the rules that protected dolphins, but he still killed them – once in front of children,” the spa noted.

“Barfield was an estimated 24-70 dolphins poisoned beet fish on charter trips that he captained,” said Noaa-fishing, according to NBC News. The organization began an investigation of Barfield in 2023 after one of its law enforcement agents received a tip that he killed dolphins, per outlet.

Noaa Fisheries said the defendant told law enforcement that he was “frustrated by the Dolphins ‘steal’ his catch,” reported NBC.

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Paige Casey, Acting Deputy Director, Noaa Ole Southeast Division said in a separate statement“These cruel and unnecessary deaths may have been unresolved without determination and expertise from our investigator and the close working relationship we have with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.” She also called Barfield’s behavior “intentionally and heartlessly.”

According to court documents, Barfield appealed guilty to two bills for illegal taking of a marine mammal and a count of federally prohibited use of a pesticide, NBC News Notes.

In addition to his fine, Barfield’s imprisonment will be followed by a one -year period of supervised release, according to the US lawyer.

Barfield’s lawyer in the case and NOAA fishing did not immediately respond to people’s request for comment.