Illegal Slaughter of Protected Sports Fish
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 12:04AM 
In 2009 the possession of Tarpon, Bonefish and Permit was prohibited in Belize - except in the act of catch and release. And although this has been law for three years now, it seems not everyone got the message.
Disturbing evidence has surfaced with regards to illegal fishing of protected species in the area of Los Salones, Ambergris Caye.
Alyssa Flota of El Pescador and Wil Flack from Tres Pescados Fly Shop indicated that they have repeatedly notified the Fisheries Department – stating that to the best of their knowledge, the boat is a Sarteneja boat selling to the Corozal market – and has apparently been netting in the area over the past two years. Despite reporting to the Fisheries Department and the management of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve on numerous occasions it appears that no action has been taken.
LINK (Via: The San Pedro Sun)
Reader Comments (8)
The US should invade Belize to take control of their strategic permit reserves.
those fish in the first pic are pompano, but yes, either way it is bullhonky
thank you guys for posting this. it's time to educate the masses about these beautiful fish. much appreciated.
Thanks for posting. I sent this to all the BZE guides I fish with and all the guys I know who fish down there. I know it happens. I have seen it with tarpon. Really pisses me off, but then again people have to eat and there are some really poor people in Belize.
These types of people disgust me. Having been down to El Pescador and seen these fish swimming through these waters and the Hol Chan Reserve I cant image this. I hope the Reserve and the Fisheries Department do something soon and stop these people
So people should starve so you can fish?
People can eat the abundance of fish that are not the few protected species. The reason they are protected is not to enhance the catchability, it is to prevent their extinction or extirpation from the area. The protected species constitute a small minority of total biomass available to eat.
pampano are delicious and last i checked, very legal to catch and consume.