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The U.S. Coast Guard on Monday detained 12 Mexican fishermen and seized approximately 1,400 pounds of illegally caught red snapper and shark.
In a news release, the Coast Guard said the fishermen were found fishing illegally north of the Maritime Boundary Line in the Gulf of Mexico.
“After interdicting three lanchas, Coast Guard crews took the fishermen into custody, brought them ashore, and transferred them to U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel for processing,” the release stated. “Coast Guard personnel also seized approximately 550 pounds of red snapper, 850 pounds of shark, along with fishing gear and equipment found on board the vessels.”
In March, the Coast Guard seized 2,500 pounds of illegally caught red snapper and 150 pounds in two separate interdictions.
In February, the agency reported a seizure of 1,595 pounds of illegally caught fish and another 200 pounds in January.
On April 17, the Coast Guard seized 771 pounds of illegally caught fish and turned over four Mexican fishermen to federal authorities who charged them with illegally exporting wildlife.