Four men are facing possible poaching charges after being arrested with illegally-taken fish and lobsters from the marine reserve near the Rum Point Channel, the Department of Environment said.
The arrests happened Wednesday, 2 Feb. when DoE conservation officers responded to a report from the public of suspicious activity in the protected area.
The DoE said a boat was intercepted with individuals in the water. An officer searched the area around the boat and found two net bags containing 51 fish of various species, and eight lobsters.
All the wildlife, the DoE said, appeared to have been taken with spear guns from within the marine reserve.
Conservation officers also seized the boat and a Honda CR-V which was used by the men in their alleged crimes.
The seized seafood was donated to a local charity.
The DoE said the men are facing several possible charges including: taking marine life from a marine reserve, possession of an unlicensed spear gun, taking marine life with an unlicensed spear gun and taking lobster above the daily limit.
They are also facing possible charges for taking fish under eight inches in length.
It is currently open season for lobsters, which ends on 28 Feb.
Under the rules, only spiny lobsters may be taken and they must be captured outside marine protected areas.
Any lobster taken must have a minimum tail length of six inches.
Take limit during the open season remains three spiny lobsters per person, per day, or six spiny lobsters per boat, per day – whichever is less.
The National Conservation Act, the DoE states on its website, sets a general penalty upon conviction of up to four years imprisonment and/or up to $500,000 in fines for the illegal removal of marine-protected species.
The DoE reminded the public that violations of marine park, spear gun licence and catch-limit regulations are criminal offences that will be prosecuted.
Breaches of the National Conservation Act should be reported to DoE conservation officers at 916-4271 while active poaching can also be reported to 911.
The marine park boundaries, fishing season and catch limits can be found at doe.ky/marine-parks or on the DoE mobile app.
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I think it is about time that a lesson be made about these people who destroy the environment and they be given the most severe sentence
I hope the spear guns were also seized. The fact that they were unlicensed is even graver. These spear guns should be destroyed.