PANAMA CITY, Fla. — A Panama City commercial fishing captain has been sentenced to 30 days in prison and fined $51,000 for poisoning and shooting dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida announced.
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Zackery Brandon Barfield, 31, pleaded guilty to three counts of violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. He will also serve one year of supervised release following his prison term.
According to federal prosecutors, Mr Barfield admitted to poisoning dolphins by baiting them with fish laced with methomyl, a highly toxic pesticide regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. He also admitted to shooting dolphins with a 12-gauge shotgun on multiple occasions between 2022 and 2023.
One dolphin was reportedly killed instantly. Other shootings occurred while Mr Barfield captained fishing charters with passengers aboard, including children and large groups of anglers.
Acting United States Attorney Michelle Spaven called the crimes a direct threat to both wildlife and the local ecosystem.
“The defendant’s selfish acts are more than illegally poisoning and shooting protected animals,” said Ms Spaven.
“They are serious crimes against public resources and a devastating harm to a highly intelligent and charismatic species.”
The investigation was led by the National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement with help from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Prosecutors said Mr Barfield, a longtime charter and commercial captain, knowingly violated long-standing marine mammal protections.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division said the sentence should serve as a deterrent.
“He knew the regulations protecting dolphins, yet he killed them anyway — once in front of children,” Mr Gustafson said.
FWC Captain Mike Godwin said the case highlighted a unified effort among state and federal agencies.
“His actions were cruel, illegal, and a threat to the Gulf’s marine life,” said Mr Godwin.
“This case shows the power of teamwork and our shared commitment to protecting Florida’s wildlife.”
The case was prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Patrick Duggan of the DOJ’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo of the Northern District of Florida.
