A commercial fisherman in the Florida Keys has been sentenced in a case involving undersized lobsters. The sentence also keeps him out of the water for quite some time.
Alfredo Gonzalez was the captain of the lobster boat Perseverance when Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers stopped the vessel off the Gulf side of Marathon on Jan. 13, 2018.
On the boat they found 165 undersized lobster, as well has three hogfish that were out of season — and also too small.
On Jan. 3, Gonzalez pleaded no contest to one felony and 233 misdemeanors.
Judge Ruth Becker sentenced him to a year in jail and said he can't fish in Florida for the rest of his life.
According to the Monroe County State Attorney's office, the judge also banned him from Monroe County waters — including swimming and diving, even from shore — while he's on probation. That will last for five years.
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