A commercial and charter fisher from Panama City, Florida, U.S.A., has been convicted and sentenced after he was caught shooting and poisoning dolphins.
“The Gulf of America is a vital natural resource,” Acting United States Attorney Spaven said in a statement. “The defendant’s selfish acts are more than illegally poisoning and shooting protected animals; they are serious crimes against public resources, threats to the local ecosystem, and a devastating harm to a highly intelligent and charismatic species. With our dedicated law enforcement partners, we will ensure that the coastal waters remain safe for our citizens and its wildlife.”
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida, 31-year-old Zackery Brandon Barfield shot and poisoned multiple dolphins after growing frustrated with the mammals eating red snapper from his clients’ fishing lines. Depredation is a common issue for red snapper fishers.
Barfield put methomyl – a highly toxic pesticide – inside his baitfish to poison any dolphins near his boat. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Barfield continued that practice for months, poisoning an estimated 24 to 70 dolphins.
In at least two incidents, Barfield also shot and killed dolphins with a 12-guage shotgun. One of those instances took place with two children on board. NOAA Fisheries alleged Barfield shot at least five dolphins with the shotgun in 2022 and 2023.
“Barfield was a longtime charter and commercial fishing captain,” Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the U.S. Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) said in a statement. “He knew the regulations protecting dolphins, yet he killed them anyway – once in front of children. This sentence demonstrates our commitment to enforcing the rule of law. It should deter others from engaging in such conduct.”
According to NOAA Fisheries, one of their special agents was tipped off about the killings, resulting in a two-year investigation with help from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
“There are consequences to individuals who decide to harm protected and endangered species,” said Paige Casey, acting assistant director of NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement Southeast Division. “We take these types of actions seriously and we will exhaust any and all leads related to marine mammal deaths to prosecute bad actors to the full extent of the law. The illegal use of a pesticide is alarming and we encourage anyone who may witness harmful behavior to marine mammals, and any other actions detrimental to marine life, to contact our enforcement hotline.”
NOAA Fisheries claims that there were 21 known intentional dolphin fatalities from gunshot wounds, arrows, explosives, and other sharp objects over the 10-year period from 2014 to 2024.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office charged Barfield with three counts of violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Barfield was sentenced to 30 days of prison, a one-year term of supervised release, and a USD 51,000 (EUR 44,998) fine.
