PANAMA CITY, Fla. – A Florida fisherman was sentenced to 30 days in jail last week after he was convicted of poisoning dolphins with an unlawfully used pesticide and killing dolphins with a gun, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Zachary Brandon Barfield was also fined $51,000 and given one year of supervised release.
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In 2023, a NOAA Fisheries special agent received a tip that a fisherman was killing bottlenose dolphins. That led to a 2-year investigation in coordination with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and ultimately a criminal prosecution by the Department of Justice.
NOAA Fisheries said it obtained key prosecution evidence, including a shotgun and one container of methomyl, a restricted-use pesticide that has no residential use and is highly toxic.
According to investigators, Barfield repeatedly shot dolphins and fed them poison-wrapped baitfish from his fishing vessel and an additional charter vessel, both based out of Panama City.
Investigators said that Barfield shot at least five dolphins with a 12-gauge shotgun, with one confirmed death. One of the shootings occurred on a charter vessel with multiple witnesses on board.
Based on evidence obtained in the course of the investigation, Barfield fed an estimated 24–70 dolphins poison-laden baitfish on charter trips that he captained. Barfield stated he was “frustrated with dolphins ‘stealing’ his catch.”
Throughout an estimated six to seven charter trips during the summer of 2022, Barfield deliberately used methomyl to poison dolphins, investigators said, which likely resulted in multiple dolphin deaths.
The conflict between anglers and dolphins has been widely documented throughout the Southeast.
From 2014 to 2024, there were 21 known intentional dolphin fatalities from gunshot wounds, arrows, explosives and other sharp objects, NOAA said. Research cited during the trial indicates that gunshot wounds to marine mammals are severely underestimated.
Violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act fall under jurisdiction of NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement, which expeditiously investigates all alleged violations.
“There are consequences to individuals who decide to harm protected and endangered species,” said Paige Casey, acting assistant director, NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement Southeast Division. “We take these types of actions seriously and we will exhaust any and all leads related to marine mammal deaths to prosecute bad actors to the full extent of the law. The illegal use of a pesticide is alarming and we encourage anyone who may witness harmful behavior to marine mammals, and any other actions detrimental to marine life, to contact our enforcement hotline.”
Identifying and halting illegal marine mammal harassment and deaths is a priority for NOAA Fisheries, the agency said, but investigations into violent acts against wildlife are difficult to investigate.
Harassing, harming, killing, or feeding wild dolphins is prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Violations can be prosecuted civilly or criminally and are punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and up to 1 year in jail per violation.
Report any stranded or injured marine animals to the Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at (877) WHALE-HELP (877-942-5243). When encountering bottlenose dolphins, or any marine mammals, there are viewing guidelines as well as best practices to follow in order to avoid conflict.
Anyone with knowledge of persons causing marine mammals harm should call the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964.
