Fishermen busted with catch in conservation zone

Two fishermen from Sarteneja found quick judgment at the hands of Magistrate Leslie Hamilton today, though the first time offender got off easier than the repeat lawbreaker. Twenty-eight year old Oved Rivero and twenty-five year old Byron Cortez were caught red-handed fishing within the Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve. Rivero was slapped with three Fisheries violations – possession of undersized crayfish, possession of two soft-shelled crayfish and for fishing in a conservation zone. He pleaded guilty to the charges and was fined a total of one thousand five hundred and sixty five dollars. Byron Cortez was charged for fishing within a conservation zone and for having thirteen whole lobsters in his boat. He also pleaded guilty and was fined nine hundred and twenty dollars. But since this is the second time that Cortez has been caught in the Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve, all his fishing equipment was seized along with his canoe. Both men were allowed to pay only a portion of their fines today before being set free.