A commercial fisherman from Florida has been sentenced for killing dolphins by poisoning and shooting them in the Gulf of Mexico, violating federal wildlife protection laws. Zackery Brandon Barfield, a 31-year-old resident of Panama City, was sentenced to 30 days in prison and fined $51,000 after pleading guilty to three charges related to the poisoning and shooting of bottlenose dolphins, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
These actions breached the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, as stated in an official release. Court documents reveal that between 2022 and 2023, Barfield, frustrated by dolphins consuming the red snapper caught by his clients, used metomyl, a highly toxic pesticide, inside baitfish to poison dolphins approaching his boat.
Additionally, in December 2022 and during the summer of 2023, he shot at the dolphins with a 12-gauge shotgun, killing one. On one occasion, he fired these shots while school-aged children were on board. "Barfield was a charter and commercial fishing captain for many years," stated Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Department of Justice's Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD).
He further added that the defendant "was aware of the rules protecting dolphins, yet he killed them, once in front of children. This sentence underscores our commitment to upholding the rule of law. It should deter others from engaging in such conduct."
Michelle Spaven, acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, highlighted that these acts are severe crimes against public resources and the local ecosystem, causing devastating harm to a highly intelligent and charismatic species.
"These cruel and unnecessary deaths might have gone unresolved without the determination and expertise of our investigator and the close collaboration we maintain with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Environmental Crimes Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida," stated Paige Casey, acting deputy director of the Southeast Division of NOAA OLE.
"The subject's actions were deliberate and ruthless, and we will continue to pursue any harmful acts against marine mammals. Heinous crimes like this case have severe consequences," Casey added. Barfield’s prison sentence will be followed by a year of supervised release, as reported by NBC News.
Legal and Environmental Impact of Dolphin Killings
What laws did Zackery Barfield violate by killing dolphins?
Zackery Barfield violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act by killing dolphins through poisoning and shooting.
What were the consequences of Barfield's actions?
Barfield was sentenced to 30 days in prison, fined $51,000, and will undergo a year of supervised release. His actions also caused significant harm to the dolphin population and the local ecosystem.
How did authorities solve the case?
The case was resolved through the determination and expertise of investigators and the collaboration between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Environmental Crimes Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.