Four Mexican Fishermen Charged for Illegal Fishing in U.S. Waters

Four Mexican fishermen have found themselves in hot water after being charged under the Lacey Act for trafficking in illegally-taken wildlife. This marks a significant shift in policy, as it is the first time in recent memory that federal charges have been brought against Mexican nationals for illegal fishing in the U.S. Gulf.

The fishermen, hailing from Playa Bagdad, Mexico, have been repeatedly crossing into the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone in pursuit of red snapper using longline methods. With the Mexican snapper fishery overfished and depleted, the resources in U.S. waters are more attractive and lucrative. These incursions have been met with limited responses in the past, typically resulting in vessel confiscation and deportation without charges.

However, on April 16, a group of four men – Jose Daniel Santiago-Mendoza, Miguel Angel Ramirez-Vidal, Jesus David Luna-Marquez, and Jesus Roberto Morales-Amador – were intercepted by U.S. authorities while fishing in the U.S. EEZ. Their vessel was found to contain nearly 700 pounds of red snapper, valued at around $9,000.

What sets this case apart is the fact that all four men had prior arrests for fishing violations in the United States, with Ramirez-Vidal having been arrested a staggering 28 times for illegal fishing. They have since pleaded guilty to violations of the Lacey Act and are awaiting sentencing by a U.S. federal judge, facing a maximum penalty of up to five years in jail and a fine of $250,000.