Coast Guard crews interdicted an illegal Mexican fishing crew off South Padre Island on Thursday, confiscating 220 pounds of illegally caught fish.
Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi command center watchstanders received a notification from a Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi aircrew of a lancha crew engaged in illegal fishing approximately five miles north of the Maritime Boundary Line.
A Coast Guard Station South Padre Island 33-foot Special Purpose Craft–Law Enforcement crew launched to intercept the lancha. The boat crew arrived on scene and subsequently seized 220 pounds of red snapper, illegal fishing gear and the lancha.
Coast Guard personnel detained the three fishermen and transferred them to border enforcement agents for processing.
“Station South Padre Island remains committed to the early detection and interdiction of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activity, limiting the environmental and economic impact,” said Lt. Shane Gunderson, commanding officer, Station South Padre Island. “Boaters who witness illegal fishing activity are encouraged to make reports to the U.S. Coast Guard to assist in combating the illegal exploitation of the ocean’s fish stocks and protect our national interests.”
Lanchas are open, 20- to 30-foot boats powered by outboards used in the illegal Mexican fish-poaching trade in U.S. waters. They also, authorities say, are sometimes used to smuggle drugs.
Anyone witnessing potential illegal fishing out to 200 miles offshore is urged to contact the U.S. Coast Guard at 361-939-0450.
