Department of Justice
United State Attorney
- Southern District of Alabama

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2007

CONTACT: Charlie McNichol
(251) 415-7131

GUILTY PLEA AND SENTENCING IN SHOOTING OF DOLPHIN

MOBILE, AL – Don G. Walker, the Captain of the FV Lady D, a fishing boat chartered out of Orange Beach, Alabama, pleaded guilty today to a charge of violation of the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act in regard to the shooting of a dolphin last year in the Gulf of Mexico.

This case stems from a June 10, 2006, incident in which members of a fishing party which had chartered the FV Lady D complained to officials that Don Walker had shot at a dolphin who was attempting to eat a fish off a fishing line. A member of the party took a picture of a bullet spraying the water near the dolphin.

Don Walker pleaded guilty to violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 1372(a)(2)(A) and 1375(b), a charge that is a misdemeanor offense. The violation carries a maximum possible penalty of one year in prison and/or a $5,000 fine. He was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay $1,000.00 fine. In addition, he is required to make a $1,000.00 contribution to the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida for the development of a public service announcement reminding others of the consequences of harassing bottlenose dolphin.

"We believe that this prosecution and sentence will help educate others about the importance of dolphin to the ecology of the Gulf Coast," said United States Attorney Deborah J. Rhodes.

This investigation was conducted by NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service.

On the Web:

NOAA Fisheries Service: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov

Note to Reporters: NOAA enforcement press releases are distributed for informational purposes only and do not have the force and effect of law.