Florida Charter Captain Sentenced for Poisoning, Shooting Dozens of Dolphins

Zackary Barfield, a 31-year-old Florida charter boat captain, was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $51,000 for poisoning and shooting bottlenose dolphins, federally protected marine mammals. Barfield used methomyl, a toxic pesticide, to poison baitfish fed to dolphins that were consuming red snapper caught on his clients' fishing lines, and he also shot at least five dolphins, killing at least one, including an incident witnessed by children. His actions violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, and harmed the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. Prosecutors emphasized that Barfield knowingly broke laws designed to protect dolphins, causing suffering and environmental damage over multiple charter trips from 2022 to 2023. The sentencing followed Barfield's guilty plea to three counts earlier in the year. Authorities highlighted the serious impact of methomyl on marine mammals and the environment, underscoring the consequences of Barfield’s illegal actions.