PANAMA CITY, FL — A Florida charter boat captain has been sentenced to 30 days in federal prison and fined $51,000 after admitting to shooting and poisoning dolphins that interfered with his fishing operations.
Incident Overview
Zackery Brandon Barfield, 31, of Panama City, was found to have deliberately targeted bottlenose dolphins between 2022 and 2023 after becoming frustrated that they were eating red snapper from his clients’ fishing lines.
Authorities say he used a 12-gauge shotgun to shoot at least five dolphins and laced baitfish with methomyl—a highly toxic pesticide—to poison many more. The illegal activity occurred during charter trips and, in some cases, in front of families and children on board.
Legal Proceedings
Barfield pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal taking of a marine mammal and one count of unlawful pesticide use. In addition to the one-month prison term and $51,000 fine, he will serve one year of supervised release.
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice in coordination with NOAA Fisheries and federal environmental crime units.
Environmental and Community Impact
NOAA estimates that as many as 24 to 70 dolphins may have been poisoned as a result of Barfield’s actions. Officials emphasized the severity of the crime and the danger posed by methomyl, a restricted-use pesticide regulated by the EPA for its high toxicity to wildlife.
The case has sparked renewed discussion about the need for stronger protections of marine mammals and stricter oversight of charter fishing operations in the Gulf region.
What You Can Do
- Report marine wildlife violations to NOAA at (800) 853-1964 or the EPA National Response Center at (800) 424-8802.
- Stay informed about conservation policies and support responsible wildlife interaction practices.
How should wildlife protection laws be strengthened to prevent cases like this?
Join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments below.
