More than seven hundred kilos of illegally caught fish were seized this week at Alacranes (Scorpion) Reef National Park during a joint enforcement operation involving Sea Shepherd and Mexican authorities.
The seizure took place during coordinated patrols at the remote reef system in the southern Gulf of Mexico, where illegal fishing continues to threaten fragile marine ecosystems. Working alongside the Mexican Navy and fisheries authorities, inspectors intercepted a vessel operating without the required permits and carrying a large volume of fish stored on ice.
The Busts
During the inspection, authorities confirmed a final catch weight of approximately seven hundred and twenty kilos, more than fifteen hundred pounds of fish removed illegally from reef waters. According to the Navy, the vessel involved will be permanently seized.
The Operation
Alacranes Reef is a biologically important reef system that supports fish populations critical to the health of the wider Gulf. Illegal fishing here removes breeding populations, disrupts food webs, and weakens the reef’s ability to recover.
Each enforcement action represents hours of joint patrols, surveillance, and coordination. Sea Shepherd maintains a persistent presence on the water, providing logistical and operational support that allows authorities to carry out inspections in remote areas where illegal fishing often goes unchecked.
Back To Back Seizures
This seizure at Alacranes Reef occurred one day before a separate operation in the Vaquita Refuge, more than a thousand miles away, where Sea Shepherd crewmembers aboard the Seahorse detected a panga with a net deployed in the Zero Tolerance Area. The vessel and fishing gear were confiscated by authorities.
Together, these back to back enforcement actions show what is possible when sustained presence and coordination come together on the water.
Defending Scorpion Reef
Illegal fishing threatens one of the Gulf’s most fragile reef systems. Monthly support keeps patrols active where protection makes the difference.
