The U.S. Coast Guard disrupted an illegal fishing operation in the Gulf of Mexico last week, capturing over a dozen fishermen and seizing over 2,500 pounds of red snapper.
Red snapper, classified by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) as a “regulated nongame species,” is a type of fish that can often be found in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Red Snapper fishing season in federal waters began on June 1 with a limit of two fish per person daily and ended on September 1. Fishing in state waters, however, is year-round, with a limit of four fish per person a day.
The TPWD announced on November 13 that red snapper fishing in state waters would close from November 20 until January of next year and that federal waters would remain closed until the summer of next year.
The United States Coast Guard announced on December 10 that they, along with the TPWD, stopped five lancha crews from illegally fishing in the Gulf. Lancha boats are 20-30 feet long “slender” fishing boats often used for illegal fishing and narcotic transportation in the United States Exclusive Economic Zone, according to a press release.
Officials first captured four of these lanchas carrying 16 Mexican fishermen and seized 2,090 pounds of red snapper. Air Station Corpus Christi crew informed a TPWD of another crew north of the Maritime Boundary Line, where officials would later capture another lancha with four Mexican fishermen aboard and an additional 550 pounds of red snapper.
“Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing depletes our precious natural resources, disrupts our economy, and threatens the marine environment,” said Coast Guard Capt. Hans Govertsen, commanding officer at Air Station Corpus Christi, according to a release. “We are blessed to work alongside our local, state, federal, and international partners and are fiercely committed to stopping these illegal operations.”
The detained fishermen were subsequently transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“This case is another example of Texas Game Wardens working with partners to protect and conserve Texas’ natural resources,” said Col. Chad Jones, director of TPWD law enforcement, according to a release. “We truly appreciate our partnership with the Coast Guard as we patrol the coastal waterways.”
