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CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coast Guard interdicted a lancha crew and seized approximately 200 pounds of illegally caught red snapper in waters subject to U.S. law enforcement off southern Texas, Saturday.
A Coast Guard Station South Padre Island boat crew, in coordination with Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi aircrews, located and stopped four Mexican fishermen engaged in illegal fishing aboard a lancha approximately 65 miles north of the Maritime Boundary Line.
After interdicting the lancha, Coast Guard personnel seized the red snapper, fishing gear, radios, GPS devices and high flyers on board the vessel. The Coast Guard crew detained the Mexican fishermen, brought them ashore, and transferred them to border enforcement agents for processing.
“Our crews remain fiercely committed to interdicting lanchas and undermining the profitability of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing,” said Lt. Shane Gunderson, commanding officer, Station South Padre Island. “We work ceaselessly with our federal and state agency partners to put a stop to this environmental, economic threat.”
A lancha is a fishing boat used by Mexican fishermen that is approximately 20-30 feet long with a slender profile, having one outboard motor, and is capable of traveling at speeds exceeding 30 mph. Lanchas are frequently used to transport illegal narcotics to the U.S. and illegally fish in the United States’ Exclusive Economic Zone near the U.S./Mexico border in the Gulf of Mexico.
If you witness suspicious activity or illegal fishing out to 200 miles offshore, please contact the U.S. Coast Guard at 361-939-0450.
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