Turtle poachers fined, vehicles forfeited, in ‘pivotal’ sentencing

Two turtle poachers have been fined and had their boat and truck forfeited, in what Department of Environment officers call a “pivotal” step forward for conservation enforcement.

Osberne Alex Scott and Shaun Matthias Moore, who fatally speared a female green sea turtle in January last year, were fined $4,566 between them.

Chief Magistrate Angelyn Hernandez, who passed sentence on 25 March, also ordered that the men’s Honda truck, boat, boat engine and speargun, which had been seized in the investigation, be forfeited to government.

The two men had pleaded guilty in September last year to taking a protected species – the green sea turtle – from the South Sound marine park. Under the National Conservation Act, all species of sea turtles are protected and the taking of them is illegal.

Bradley Johnson, deputy director of operations and enforcement in the Department of Environment, noted that the imposition of substantial fines in this case “marks a pivotal step forward in conservation enforcement”.

In several previous poaching cases, far smaller fines and community service have typically been the sentence imposed by the court.

Johnson said the larger fine in this case signals “widespread acceptance that offences against the National Conservation Act deserve stiff penalties”.

Scott and Moore were arrested on 22 Jan. 2025 after Department of Environment conservation officers recovered the turtle, which had a number of wounds from a double-pronged spear through its shell. The turtle, which was aged between 10 and 15 years old, was still alive at the time, but died a few hours later from its injuries, despite veterinary treatment.

Injured turtle thrown from trailer during getaway

DoE officers had responded to a report of a suspicious boat in the South Sound, and when they arrived, the boat had already been taken out of the water and placed on a trailer, with the turtle on board.

Chadd Bush, the conservation officer who led the case, said, “We are pleased with this successful prosecution, which reflects the hard work of our enforcement team. While many poaching incidents go undetected or [there is a] lack the evidence to proceed, this case allowed us to secure justice for a particularly brutal act of animal cruelty.

“It is heartbreaking to lose a reproductive female who would have continued to nest for many years to come, but we are grateful we intercepted the offenders before they could escape.”

Bush added, “As turtle season begins, we ask the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately. These animals are a national treasure, and our teams will be patrolling day and night to ensure their protection.”

Turtle nesting season typically runs from May to November, during which adult female turtles climb onto local beaches to dig nests and lay their eggs. It is a time when the turtles are particularly vulnerable to poachers, as they return to the same area of beach to lay their eggs up to six times in one season.

Johnson said, “The Department of Environment remains committed to protecting Cayman’s native species and natural environment and appreciates the community’s continued support in reporting these incidents.”