An Oregon resident faces charges for allegedly capturing and “wrestling” two protected shark species in Puget Sound, Washington. The types involved are the bluntnose sixgill and broadnose sevengill sharks, both protected species.
Legal Action and Evidence
The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife recently released body camera footage showing an officer confronting Connor Seifert, 27, in June in Pierce County, Washington. The footage captures the officer reminding Seifert of the regulations protecting these sharks. The officer states, “You know your shark rules. You can’t fully or partially remove sixgill from the water.” He emphasized the severity of Seifert’s actions by noting the impact on shark populations. “Once they exhaust themselves being fought to shore, all of their babies die,” he explained. “Sooner than you know it, you’re not going to have sixgill and sevengill returning to Puget Sound anymore.”
Surveillance and Charges
Authorities tracked Seifert’s actions for months, finally setting up surveillance to catch him in the act of making an illegal catch. As a result, he faces nine counts of unlawful recreational fishing in the second degree and one count of making a false statement to a public servant. These charges include potential fines up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail for the misdemeanors, with gross misdemeanors possibly resulting in a $5,000 fine and a year in jail.
Online Posts and Public Complaints
Seifert’s online activities have compounded the case against him. Videos allegedly posted by Seifert, where he sat on a shark’s back and opened its mouth, contradict his claim of accidental catch. Public reports of his targeted actions toward these sharks reached a total of 14 complaints.
Shark Conservation and Legal Protection
Puget Sound serves as a critical nursery for the sixgill and sevengill sharks before they migrate to the ocean. This highlights the importance of their protection within the area. These species fall under the category of “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” in Washington State, with bluntnose sixgills listed as “near threatened” and broadnose sevengills as “vulnerable,” according to conservation status.
Brie Stimson, based in Los Angeles, contributes to both entertainment and breaking news reports for Fox News Digital.