By Norma Connolly
Copyright caymancompass
Two poachers have pleaded guilty to taking a protected species – a green sea turtle – from the South South marine park.
Osberne Alex Scott and Shaun Matthias Moore appeared in the dock at the Summary Court before Chief Magistrate Angelyn Hernandez on Tuesday, 9 Sept.
The men had been arrested on 22 Jan. this year after Department of Environment conservation officers recovered the female turtle, which had a number of spear wounds through its shell. The turtle, which was aged between 10 and 15 years old, was still alive, but died a few hours later from its injuries, despite veterinary treatment.
According to a report from the Department of Environment at the time, its officers had responded to a report of a suspicious boat in the South Sound. When they arrived, the boat had already been taken out of the water and placed on a trailer, with the turtle on board.
The department said as the vehicle pulling the trailer took a corner, the trailer flipped, throwing the boat and the turtle onto the road.
On Tuesday, Scott and Moore both pleaded guilty to taking a protected species, with the use of a hook stick, which is considered a spear gun, to remove the turtle from the water. Using that hook stick also led to them being charged with possessing an unlicensed spear gun, to which they also pleaded guilty.
Two other charges were also listed on the docket – taking a specimen from a protected area and taking marine life with the aid of a spear gun. Those charges were not put to the two men, and the Crown prosecution indicated it would deal with those two counts at the sentencing date, which is set for 29 Oct.
