THE 16 Honduran nationals found fishing illegally in Jamaican waters last Thursday were yesterday fined and ordered deported when they appeared in the Half-Way Tree Resident Magistrate's Court.
One fisherman who translated for the group said that they all pleaded guilty to having 16 pounds of lobster, 13 pounds of conch; fishing without a licence and catching conch in the off-season. The fines were $500 or 10 days in jail for catching conch in the off season and for fishing without a licence, each was fined $1,000 or 30 days with the exception of a juvenile whose case has been withdrawn for now.
An order was also made by RM Martin Gayle for the equipment found (33 diving tanks and other fishing gear) to be given to the Crown and for forfeiture of eight boats and the lobster and conch.
The men were arrested for breaches of the Fishing Industry Act at Pedro Bank on Thursday. They are Bernath Gomez 33; Wilbar Diafre 18; Ken Amaya 18; Valerriano Christobal 29; Leeman Barbacho 33; Espeta Van-Marco 20; Nanking Martinez 20; Earl Elvin 41; Curbelo Licar 20; Guiterres Fajardo 27; Foister Francisso 33; Davis Daniel 24; Boquin Nepally 24; Cueres Misnior 28; Mairland Leynar 24 and a 16-year-old juvenile.
It is the third time this year that Hondurans have been fined for fishing illegally in Jamaican waters. In January, more than 80 were arrested and eventually sent home. In April, 104 were fined for breaches of Jamaica's fishing and environmental laws. They were sent home after several months battling in the courts.
The captain of that vessel and his chiefmate were each fined the maximum $100,000 or six months imprisonment under the Wildlife Protection Act for possession of an endangered species, a Hawksbill turtle and each crew member was fined $1,000 or 30 days for fishing without a licence and $500 or 10 days each under the Fishing Industry Act and Regulations for fishing lobster and conch in the closed season.
It was reported last weekend that about 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, members of the Jamaica Defence Force Coastguard were on patrol in the Pedro Bank area when a fishing vessel marked 'Thunder Rich' was seen with a number of dinghies around it. On the approach of the Coastguard vessel, the boat sped away leaving the 16 men behind. They were taken to the Marine Police headquarters where they were questioned and charged.
