David Cinalli News

Fishing Vessel Found in Closed Florida Fishing Zone

The Coast Guard Cutter Key Largo boarded a fishing boat Monday night, after observing it allegedly fishing inside the Tortugas Shrimp Sanctuary, a zone closed to shrimp trawling. The fishing vessel Miss Linda Darlene, homeport in Coden, Ala., was located by a Coast Guard helicopter and intercepted by the cutter Key Largo. The Key Largo’s boarding team reported an estimated 1,800 pounds of shrimp in the vessel’s hold. The 73-foot fishing vessel Miss Linda Darlene and the shrimp were transferred to agents from the National Marine Fisheries Service, who met the vessel at Bama Seafood on Stock Island in Key West, Fla. The evidence package for this seizure has been forwarded to NMFS, who will determine if a formal Notice of Violation will be issued.