SIXTY-ONE Dominican poachers appeared before Magistrate Carolita Bethel in Court 8, Bank Lane yesterday.

All pleaded guilty to charges of illegal fishing in Bahamian waters, possession of prohibited spear guns, possession of prohibited air compressors, possession of groupers weighing under three pounds and possession of crawfish during the closed season.

In the first of two cases, 11 Dominican poachers aboard the "Lil Lamb" on Wednesday, July 13, admitted to having in their possession 12 spear guns, 16 air compressors, 3,075 pounds of crawfish, 3,822 pounds of grouper, 798 pounds of margaret fish, 1,882 pounds of parrot fish and 280 pounds of mixed fish.

Nine of the eleven crewmen were sentenced to pay a fine of $500 or spend six months in prison while the captain was sentenced to pay a $50,000 fine or spend one year in prison.

The Dominican crewmen found aboard the second vessel, "Don Emmy", were given the same sentence as their counterparts, although the captain's fine in this case was $25,000.

The vessels, catch and everything else found onboard were ordered seized.

Source: http://www.tribune242.com

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