UPDATE: Mexican fishing boat seized

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — A Mexican vessel carrying about 700 red snapper was seized for illegal fishing by the U.S. Coast Guard on Wednesday, officials said.

David Cantu, petty officer 1st class for the Coast Guard, said the vessel, a “lancha” or “Mexican shark boat,” was spotted about 18 miles east of the Brazos Santiago Pass. The four-man crew was illegally fishing in the Economic Exclusive Zone.

This zone is designated to protect natural resources, Cantu said, and while foreign vessels are allowed to pass by the zone, they are not allowed to fish without special permission.

“They tried to run back to Mexican waters, south of the EEZ,” Cantu said. “We stopped them in international waters 14 miles offshore and about a half-mile south of the EEZ border.”

The men admitted to fishing in the EEZ and a GPS system, where they had saved longitude and latitude coordinates, and fishing gear, was more evidence against them, Cantu said.

The men have been caught several times fishing in the EEZ, Cantu added.

“We got permission from higher command to seize the vessel and the catch was discarded offshore,” Cantu said. “These guys are just the workers that come and fish and then take it back to the people they work for. We’re pretty sure we know who they work for.”

Cantu said the Coast Guard detained the men at SPI and then turned them over to Border Patrol. The vessel is still in custody of the Coast Guard.

Cantu said the men could be charged with illegal fishing and, if found guilty, could face jail time. The vessel, if left under Coast Guard custody, will be destroyed, Cantu added.