On March 5, Texas Game Wardens, the U.S. Coast Guard ( USCG), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) Air and Marine Operations intercepted four lancha crews and seize about 1,250 pounds of illegally caught red snapper from the Gulf of Mexico. A lancha is a boat that is 20 to 30 feet long, has an outboard motors, and can travel at speeds greater than 30 mph. It is registered with no other country and is about 20 to 30 feet long.
A total of 19 Mexican fishermen engaged in illegal fish aboard lanchas north of the U.S. border were located and stopped by boat crew from Coast Guard Station South Padre Island, CBP Air and Marine Operations, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in cooperation with Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi aircrews.
Texas Game Wardens are glad of the alliances we have with organizations like the USCG and CBP Air and Marine Operations, according to Texas Game Warden Captain Chris Dowdy. Operating as firms together is what makes victories like this feasible. Our local, state, and federal lovers have a significant role in protecting Texas ‘ natural resources. More than ever, the office and our partners are determined to play a role in ending the illegal planting and eroding of state resources.
A lancha carrying more than 185 red snapper and weighing about 1, 000 weight was intercepted by match rangers. No unregulated foreign vessel may enter or attempt to enter Texas ‘ coastal waters by any means or possess any natural asset in violation of the Parks and Wildlife Code. Also, the team was in U. S. waterways without consent and intentionally evaded jailers, resulting in more federal and state violations.
According to Chief Petty Officer Glenn Jimenez, command duty officer at Sector Corpus Christi,” combating illegal, undetected, and unregulated fishing is important to safeguarding our valuable resources and protecting the sensitive marine environment.” To ensure the sustainability of our waters and put a stop to these illegal pursuits, we will continue to work closely with our local, state, federal, and international partners.
If you witness suspicious activity or illegal fishing in Texas state waters ( from land to 9 miles offshore ), please contact Operation Game Thief ( OGT ) at 1- 800- 792- GAME ( 4263 ). For all suspicious activity or illegal fishing occurring in federal waters ( out to 200 miles abroad ), please call the U. S. Coast Guard at 361- 939- 0450.
The initial media release can be viewed here.
