In a significant victory for marine conservation, Zachary Brandon Barfield, a fisherman from Panama City, Florida, was sentenced on May 21, 2025, to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay a $51,000 fine for violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Federal Magistrate Judge Michael J. Frank of the Northern District of Florida also imposed one year of supervised release following Barfield’s conviction for shooting and poisoning bottlenose dolphins. The case, prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environmental Crimes Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, highlights the severe consequences of harming protected marine species.
The investigation, led by NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement in collaboration with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, began in 2023 after a tip reported Barfield’s actions. Over two years, evidence revealed that Barfield deliberately targeted dolphins out of frustration over their interference with his catch. Operating from his fishing vessel and a charter boat in Panama City, Barfield shot at least five dolphins with a 12-gauge shotgun, resulting in one confirmed death, and fed an estimated 24–70 dolphins baitfish laced with methomyl, a highly toxic, restricted-use pesticide. These acts occurred across multiple commercial and charter trips in 2022 and 2023, with one shooting witnessed by passengers on a charter vessel.
NOAA Fisheries seized critical evidence, including a shotgun and a container of methomyl, which has no approved residential use and poses significant environmental risks. Barfield’s deliberate use of the pesticide caused harmful impacts to the local bottlenose dolphin population, likely leading to multiple deaths. “There are consequences to individuals who decide to harm protected and endangered species,” said Paige Casey, acting assistant director of NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement Southeast Division. “The illegal use of a pesticide is alarming, and we will exhaust all leads to prosecute bad actors to the fullest extent of the law.”
Conflicts between anglers and dolphins are a persistent issue in the Southeast, with 21 known intentional dolphin fatalities from gunshots, arrows, explosives, and other weapons reported between 2014 and 2024. Research presented during the trial suggests that gunshot wounds to marine mammals are significantly underreported, underscoring the urgency of enforcement efforts. NOAA Fisheries prioritizes halting such illegal acts, and this successful prosecution reflects the strong partnership between NOAA, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and federal prosecutors.
Under the MMPA, harassing, harming, or killing wild dolphins is strictly prohibited, with penalties of up to $100,000 in fines and one year in jail per violation. The public is encouraged to report marine mammal violations to the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964 or stranded/injured animals to the Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at (877) 942-5243. NOAA also provides dolphin-friendly fishing tips and viewing guidelines to prevent conflicts and promote coexistence with marine life.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting marine mammals and the role of public vigilance in supporting enforcement efforts. For more information, visit wildohio.gov.
Reference: NOAA Fisheries. (2025, May 23). Florida Fisherman Convicted for Killing Dolphins.
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