TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Florida fishing captain who shot and poisoned dolphins was sentenced last week to 30 days in prison, according to First Coast News.
Zackery Brandon Barfield, 31, of Panama City, was sentenced to 30 days in prison and was ordered to pay a $51,000 fine.
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According to the report, NOAA Fisheries conducted a two-year investigation after receiving a tip that a fisherman was killing bottlenose dolphins.
Prosecutors say Barfield, a licensed charter and commercial fishing captain in the Panama City area for more than a decade, was frustrated with dolphins eating red snapper from his fishing lines, so he poisoned his baitfish.
Officials estimate that he poisoned as many as 70 dolphins.
Prosecutors also said Barfield used a 12-gauge shotgun to shoot dolphins surfacing near his boat, striking five and killing at least one.
One time, Barfield shot a dolphin in the presence of two elementary-aged children, prosecutors said. Another time, he shot a dolphin while more than a dozen fishermen were on board, the report stated.
Read more details here.