PANAMA CITY, Fla. – A Panama City charter and commercial fishing captain has been sentenced for killing bottlenose dolphins in violation of federal wildlife laws.
Zackery Brandon Barfield, 31, was sentenced to 30 days in federal prison and fined $51,000, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. He will also serve one year of supervised release.
Federal officials said Barfield violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act by poisoning and shooting dolphins between 2022 and 2023.
Investigators said Barfield used methomyl, a highly toxic pesticide, to poison baitfish and feed them to dolphins near his boat. He was reportedly frustrated with dolphins eating red snapper from his clients’ fishing lines.
Barfield also used a 12-gauge shotgun to shoot dolphins, once while two elementary-aged children were on board, and another time with more than a dozen passengers present, according to the DOJ.
Barfield held licenses as both a charter and commercial fishing captain in the Panama City area.
