Florida authorities announced charges Monday against ten people accused of running a multiyear illegal commercial fishing operation that took roughly 23,000 pounds of fish and sold more than $150,000 worth of seafood, including five protected sea turtles. According to the Attorney General’s office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the investigation began in May 2022 and spanned from North Florida to Pinellas County. Officials say the group routinely caught more red snapper and gag grouper than allowed, then avoided reporting requirements by selling dockside at night, from their homes, or through handoffs on the water.
Three of the defendants, identified as Terry Carrington, Anthony Folsom and Jordan Neylan, are accused of catching and selling five sea turtles, three adults and two hatchlings, to undercover officers. The charges include racketeering, conspiracy, unlawful possession or sale of marine turtles, and cheating. If convicted as charged, maximum sentences range from 65 to 75 years.
For Suncoast communities, the case hits close to home. Our beaches host nesting sea turtles every season, and our local seafood economy depends on rules that keep the playing field fair for licensed, law-abiding fishermen. FWC officials reiterated that Florida’s fisheries belong to everyone, and the regulations exist to protect both the resource and the people who follow them. If you witness suspicious fishing or wildlife activity, Florida’s wildlife alert hotline is 888-404-3922.
What do you think, Suncoast? Are the penalties in this case strong enough to deter poachers?
