佛罗里达州端掉非法捕捞海龟走私团伙 10 人被控
佛罗里达州检察长詹姆斯·乌特迈尔（James Uthmeier）与州鱼类和野生动物保护委员会（FWC）于 10 月 5 日（周一）宣布，捣毁一个非法捕捞与海龟走私团伙，10 人被起诉。据 WJNO 报道，此次行动针对一个被控盗猎受保护海洋物种并牟利的网络。
调查人员表示，该团伙非法捕捞海龟——所有海龟种类均受州法与联邦法保护——以及其他受管制海洋生物，在黑市上出售动物及其制品。卧底警员花了数月时间打入该网络，随后实施抓捕。
10 名被告面临非法捕捞受保护物种、共谋、走私等多项指控，多人可能面临监禁并被吊销商业捕捞执照。
乌特迈尔表示，此次行动传递了明确信号：佛罗里达州绝不容忍对其海洋资源的掠夺。FWC 官员呼吁公众通过野生动物举报热线举报疑似盗猎行为。
（来源：WJNO）
Florida Busts Illegal Fishing and Sea Turtle Smuggling Ring; 10 Charged
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced on Monday, October 5, the takedown of an illegal fishing and sea turtle smuggling ring, with 10 people charged, WJNO reported. The operation targeted a network accused of poaching protected marine species and trafficking them for profit.
Investigators say the ring illegally harvested sea turtles — all species of which are protected under state and federal law — along with other regulated marine life, selling the animals and their parts on the black market. Undercover officers spent months infiltrating the network before making arrests.
The 10 defendants face a range of charges including illegal take of protected species, conspiracy, and trafficking. Several face potential prison time and the loss of commercial fishing licenses.
Uthmeier said the operation sends a clear message that Florida will not tolerate the exploitation of its marine resources. FWC officials urged the public to report suspected poaching through the agency's wildlife alert hotline.
(Source: WJNO)
图片来源：图：一只红海龟（蠵龟）趴在海滩上。摄影：Ryan Hagerty / USFWS，公有领域，来源：Wikimedia Commons
