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And while illegal and unregulated fishing in Belize's waters - outside of gill nets - continues to happen to this day many fishers, both local and foreign get away with it.  But one Cowpen Village fisherman didn't. Diogines Gomez pleaded guilty to charges of illegal entry into a natural monument and illegal fishing when he appeared today before Senior Magistrate Tricia Pitts Anderson. 

He was fined $2,000 for each offence. He was given until April 15th to pay one of the fines and until June 15th to pay the other fine. If he defaults on payment he will serve 3 months for each fine.

Gomez was busted about 2 a.m. on December 4th fishing in the Half Moon Caye Monument, located at the southeast corner of Lighthouse Reef Atoll. A park ranger was on routine patrol in the Half Moon Caye monument when he saw Gomez in a blue canoe fishing. The ranger found 78 conch in shells and 101 unprocessed conch and a lobster. Â