A Station South Padre Island law enforcement boat crew stops a lancha crew engaged in illegal fishing in federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico April 30, 2020. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Station South Padre Island)
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Coast Guard law enforcement crews detected and interdicted five Mexican lancha boat crews engaged in illegal fishing in federal waters off the coast of southern Texas Thursday evening.
Coast Guard crews consisting of air support, a small boat crew and a cutter stopped five lanchas engaged in illegal fishing and seized approximately 5,000 lbs of Red Snapper, 450 lbs of shark and illegal fishing equipment.
“The Coast Guard is dedicated to the protection of marine resources, even in unprecedented times such as these,” said Lt. Kurtis Mees, commanding officer of Coast Guard Station South Padre Island.
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 in state waters (out to 9 miles offshore), please contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s “Operation Game Thief” at 1-800-792-GAME (4263). For all suspicious activity or illegal fishing occurring in federal waters (out to 200 miles offshore), please contact the U.S. Coast Guard at 361-939-0450.
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