We always hear about foreign fishers form Honduras and Guatemala raiding Belizean waters and then taking out of season catches south to their countries. But, it's a dirty trade in which Belizean fishers also play a role - and there's proof of that tonight.
A trio of Belizeans were caught last week Thursday in Honduras in an illegal fishing operation. They are Manuel Flores and Bartolo Jimenez from Belize City, and Jeffery Gongora from Ranchito, Corozal.
According to reports from Honduras the group were found at the entrance of the Alvarado Lagoon, in Puerto Cortes, Honduras. Inside the vessel the authorities discovered 600 pounds of conch in an icebox. The conch is believed to have been captured in Belize and then taken to Honduras for sale. The products were impounded and the men were arrested. The boat remains at the naval base in Puerto Cortes and the illegal catch has since been donated to an orphanage and home for the elderly in that country. As for the three men, they were handed over to the Honduran immigration department and are now awaiting deportation back to Belize.
The men were on the boat named "Darling" owned by Honduran Ada Linda Rosales. Interesting thing is, the vessel had dual registration, both in Belize and in Honduras - which is illegal and fraudulent.
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We always hear about foreign fishers form Honduras and Guatemala raiding Belizean waters and then taking out of season catches south to their countries. But, it's a dirty trade in which Belizean fishers also play a role - and there's proof of that tonight.