Size Of Illegal Net Suspects Used For Fishing Was Over Four And A Half Football Fields

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Ten suspects fishing from the Skyway Bridge North Rest Area in St. Petersburg face multiple charges after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission accused them of using gill nets, an illegal fishing method in Florida, Thursday, a news release said.

The four gill nets the suspects had measured 1,660 feet in length—more than four and a half football fields of netting, according to FWC. Fish and sharks caught by the men, totaling more than 500 pounds, were seized by law enforcement officers.

“This case is a great example of the important work our officers do every day to protect Florida’s natural resources,” FWC SW Regional Commander, Maj. Rob Rowe, said.“The use of these nets is illegal and harmful to the fish and wildlife that are indiscriminately killed when they become entangled in it.”

A resident who saw them fishing with gill nets contacted FWC, and the agency's officers noticed they were illegally fishing, the report said.

What Are Gill Nets?

According to the FWC, gill nets are any nets constructed entirely or partially of monofilament material other than a cast net or a landing dip net. They are typically vertical sections of net that are stretched out on a rope suspended by a float and typically work by “gilling” the fish and entangling them within the mesh.

"With the exception of very small fish that escape through the mesh, the majority of marine life that becomes entangled in the net die," FWC said. "This type of net can be especially devastating for sea turtles and marine mammals."

These types of nets were banned from Florida's waters as of July 1, 1995, after voters approved its constitutional amendment, FWC said. All violations pertaining to gill nets in state waters constitute a felony of the third degree.

Charges For Illegal Netting

The suspects, who are from Atlanta, Marcos Lopez Navarrete,27; Ernesto Lopez Navarrete, 35; Roberto Gonzalez Lopez, 41; Carlos Lopez Santana, 18; Fredy Lopez Navarrete, 38; Fredy Lopez Reyez, 18; Rafael Castro Herrera, 40; Daniel Reyez Valente, 26; Efren Lopez Navarette, 43; and Lorenzo Lopez Navarette,40, were each charged with the following, the FWC said:

• Use of gill net in state water.
• Major violation pertaining to snook.
• Undersized sheepshead.
• Undersized black drum.
• Undersized permit.
• Illegal method of harvest of snook.
• Undersized snook.
• Out-of-season snook.
• Unersized trout.
• Illegal method of harvest of shark.
• Illegal method of harvest of blue crab.