Suspected repeat poachers held with 194 conch

Nearly four months after being arrested for poaching, three men are set to return to court facing new charges for illegally taking 194 conch and other protected species, the Department of Environment has said.

The DoE, in a post on its official Facebook page on Thursday, said the men were held by conservation officers in a recently-executed operation following a tip-off.

According to the DoE, officers responded to a report that suspected poachers were unloading large numbers of marine life from their boat in the Governors Harbour area.

The DoE said the officers confronted the suspects who attempted to dispose of the suspected marine life.

After investigating, the officers recovered 194 conch, which is currently out-of-season, along with several other out-of-season and/or protected marine species.

Conch season is closed from 1 May through 31 October. During this period no one can take, purchase, receive or possess conch taken from Cayman’s waters.

The seized wildlife, the DoE said, appeared to have been taken illegally by spear gun.

Three unlicensed spear guns were recovered and seized, along with the men’s boat and vehicle.

The men face several charges under the National Conservation Act.

The DoE said the men had previously been apprehended by conservation officers in February with 51 fish and 8 lobster, all also taken using unlicensed spear guns.

The boat and vehicle used to commit those offences had also been seized by officers.

Both matters will be going before the Court.

The seized marine life was donated to the Pines Retirement Home.