Fisherman loses case of undersized lobster and conch

A Roaring Creek Fisherman was slapped with a fine of almost ten thousand dollars for being in possession of undersized conchs and lobster found onboard his fishing vessel, Giana. The fisherman was busted by a team of Fisheries officials on May fourteenth in the Belize City harbor.  This morning Jose Cruz was arraigned before Magistrate Dale Cayetano for possession of two hundred and forty undersized conch and eighty-five lobster pieces during the close season. Cruz must pay the court eight thousand seven hundred dollars by October thirtieth or in default, six months imprisonment. According to the fisheries prosecutor, Emmanuel Westby, during the search of Cruz’s boat, the conchs and lobsters were found packed separately in plastic bags and placed in the bow and stern of the boat.