A charter boat captain from Panama City, Florida was sentenced on federal charges on 10 October 2006 for shooting at dolphins after they took fish from his clients' fishing lines in U.S. waters in October 2005.

Christopher Kevin Weaver, captain of the Leo Too, a charter boat operating out of Treasure Island Marina in Florida, was placed on two years of probation and fined $1,000 for violating the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) for shooting several dolphins on Oct. 13, 2005. As a condition of his probation, Weaver may not possess a firearm for two years.

Standing on the bridge of the Leo Too, Weaver reportedly fired a .38 caliber handgun at a dolphin while it was in the water near the boat after seeing it grab a fish from the hook of one of his fishing clients lines. When the Leo Too moved to another fishing spot, Weaver again shot at one or more dolphins. It is unknown whether his shots struck any of the dolphins.

Weaver pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of violating the MMPA on Aug. 8, 2006. The case was investigated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Law Enforcement and prosecuted by Mary Dee Carraway, Trial Attorney for the Justice Department's Environmental Crimes Section.

The MMPA prohibits the taking of any marine mammal, including dolphins, in waters or lands under the jurisdiction of the United States. “Take” as defined in the Act, means to harass, hunt, capture or kill or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill any marine mammal. “Harassment,” also defined by the Act, means any act, pursuit, torment or annoyance which has the potential to injure a marine mammal in the wild or has the potential to disturb a marine mammal by causing disruption of behavioral patterns, including, but no limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding or sheltering.

The Marine Connection was appalled to learn about this situation and were very pleased to see the authorities taking the protection of dolphins seriously. The irresponsible actions of this charter boat Captain may have severley harmed, maimed or even killed a number of dolphins which is absolutely unacceptable.

Source: Emeraldcoast.com
Image: © James Dorsey