The Tribune

LAW enforcement officials in Florida found illegal catches of conch and lobster on two boats on their way to Florida from West End, Grand Bahama, late Thursday night.

According to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, located in Stuart, Florida, officers were on routine patrol Thursday night when Marine Unit Deputy Michael Joseph stopped two vessels running through the St Lucie Inlet.

The captains of both vessels said they were coming back from West End, the sheriff’s office said.

The boats were taken to Sandsprit Park, in Stuart, Florida for a vessel inspection.

Once there, Marine Deputy Travis Dykes and K-9 Deputy Pete Peterson inspected the boats and found find 120-lobster tails hidden beneath ice blocks on one boat and 14 queen conch hidden on the second, the sheriff’s office said.

“The captains admitted to the illegal activity,” said a statement posted on sheriff’s office Facebook page. “The quantity far exceeded what is allowed by law, the lobsters were not in their whole condition, and many of them were undersize. Queen Conch is illegal to possess in state waters.”

The illegal catches were confiscated and turned over to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for further investigation.

The sheriff’s office said the marine unit will continue to monitor the waters.