Coast Guard seizes two boats from Mexico


MGN Online. Coast Guard

Posted: Tuesday, August 13, 2013 9:49 pm
The Brownsville Herald Brownsville Herald

After a charter fishing boat captain reported possible illegal fishing activity, federal authorities seized more than 700 pounds of catch and detained seven Mexican nationals, authorities said.

On Thursday morning, Coast Guard Station South Padre Island boat crews seized two vessels after crews were caught illegally fishing in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, according to a U.S. Coast Guard press release.

The charter fishing boat captain spotted a lancha — Mexican fishing boat — retrieving fishing gear from the water 10 miles north of the border. A 33-foot Law Enforcement Special Purpose Craft confirmed the activity, according to a USCG press release.

Four people were detained from that vessel and authorities reported in a press release that they seized approximately 250 pounds of snapper and 300 pounds of shark.

Later that day, a second lancha was detained at around noon, and three people were detained and 150 pounds of snapper were confiscated.

The Mexican nationals were turned over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for repatriation, the vessels were seized and the catch was disposed of at sea, according to the USCG.

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/local/article_da6db06a-048b-11e3-ac2f-001a4bcf6878.html