40 sharks seized after they are illegally caught off Texas coast, officials say

Authorities say four Mexican fishermen were illegally fishing for sharks off the southern Texas coast.

Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi command center watchstanders learned of the illegal fishing Tuesday, Aug. 3 after a report from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, according to a news release.

Crew members with the U.S. Coast Guard found the fishermen in a lancha boat about 7 miles north of the Maritime Boundary Line.

There, they seized 40 sharks and illegal fishing equipment, authorities said. The fishermen were also detained and taken to border enforcement agents.

Lanchas are fishing boats typically used by Mexican fishermen to bring narcotics and fish into the country, according to Coast Guard officials. The boat has a slender profile, measures about 20-30 feet long and can reach 30 mph.

Officials did not say what the fishermen planned to do with the sharks.

This story was originally published August 3, 2022 at 1:22 PM with the headline "40 sharks seized after they are illegally caught off Texas coast, officials say."