Crime & Safety
Fisherman Convicted In Great White Shark Shooting Near Santa Cruz
Authorities said the dead nine-foot male shark washed ashore June 17 along Beer Can Beach in Aptos.
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — A San Jose fisherman was convicted last week of unlawfully shooting a great white shark that was swimming near his fishing nets last summer off Santa Cruz. Vinh Pham, 41, was fined $5,000 and placed on conditional probation for two years, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Thursday.
The Santa Cruz Superior Court also ordered his firearm to be destroyed. The dead nine-foot male shark washed ashore June 17 along Beer Can Beach in Aptos. A necropsy showed it was killed by multiple shots from a .22 caliber firearm, according to the wildlife agency.
Soon after, wildlife officials were tipped off that a commercial fishing boat crewmember may have been responsible for shooting the animal. Officers observed the vessel fishing that evening near the site where the dead shark washed up and contacted the boat's crew when they returned to Santa Cruz Harbor the next morning.
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An inspection uncovered multiple violations involving their catch for that day, including possession of undersize halibut, no landing receipts, failure to weigh their commercial catch and failure to turn in landing receipts. During the investigation, officers located a loaded .22 caliber
rifle concealed in the truck the suspect was using to take his catch to markets.
Officers seized the rifle as evidence, and then submitted the weapon and the .22 bullets taken from the shark necropsy to the California Department of Justice crime lab to see if they matched. As the investigation progressed, Pham confessed, claiming he shot the shark after seeing it swimming near the wings of his fishing net.
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On Jan. 14, Pham pled to multiple charges including wanton waste of the shark, possessing a loaded rifle in his vehicle, possessing undersize halibut, failing to accurately weigh his catch, failing to complete landing receipts and failing to submit landing receipts.
Information on poaching or polluting incidents, or any fish and wildlife violation, can be reported by calling the toll-free CalTIP number (888) 334-2258, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Tips may also be submitted to CDFW using tip411, an internet-based tool that enables wildlife officers to respond directly to the reporting party, initiating a two-way conversation. Tipsters may remain anonymous if they choose. Tips can be sent to CDFW by texting "CALTIP", followed by a space and the message, to 847411 (tip411).
By Bay City News
Photo via Shutterstock
