Sea Lion Murder
Fisherman Arrested in Stabbing of Bait-stealing Sea Lion
NEWPORT BEACH, California (AP) -- A fisherman accused of stabbing a sea lion with a steak knife after the animal stole his bait has been arrested.
The sea lion, a six-foot female weighing about 150 pounds, was stabbed in the heart and was euthanized, said Dean Gomersall, animal care supervisor at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach.
"It's a horrible thing," Gomersall said. "My crew is extremely upset, and we're just glad the person was caught."
Hai Nguyen, 24, was fishing off a Newport pier about 12:30 p.m. Friday when the sea lion snatched the bait from his fishing pole.
"It was close enough so he could just reach out and stab it in the water," said Sgt. Evan Sailor, a police spokesman. "A number of people witnessed it and called police."
Nguyen was arrested without incident at the pier and held at Newport Beach Jail on $20,000 bail. He was expected to be arraigned next week on a charge of felony cruelty to animals, authorities said.
The case also was being investigated by the U.S. attorney's office for possible federal charges under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Nguyen could face a $25,000 fine and up to a year in prison if convicted on the animal cruelty charge. A conviction on federal charges of violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act could add $12,000 in civil penalties, criminal fines of up to $20,000 and additional jail time, authorities said.
The owner of Nguyen's boat, Michael Vick, was unavailable for comment...
NEWPORT BEACH, California (AP) -- A fisherman accused of stabbing a sea lion with a steak knife after the animal stole his bait has been arrested.
The sea lion, a six-foot female weighing about 150 pounds, was stabbed in the heart and was euthanized, said Dean Gomersall, animal care supervisor at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach.
"It's a horrible thing," Gomersall said. "My crew is extremely upset, and we're just glad the person was caught."
Hai Nguyen, 24, was fishing off a Newport pier about 12:30 p.m. Friday when the sea lion snatched the bait from his fishing pole.
"It was close enough so he could just reach out and stab it in the water," said Sgt. Evan Sailor, a police spokesman. "A number of people witnessed it and called police."
Nguyen was arrested without incident at the pier and held at Newport Beach Jail on $20,000 bail. He was expected to be arraigned next week on a charge of felony cruelty to animals, authorities said.
The case also was being investigated by the U.S. attorney's office for possible federal charges under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Nguyen could face a $25,000 fine and up to a year in prison if convicted on the animal cruelty charge. A conviction on federal charges of violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act could add $12,000 in civil penalties, criminal fines of up to $20,000 and additional jail time, authorities said.
The owner of Nguyen's boat, Michael Vick, was unavailable for comment...
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I'm amazed that this story made the national news - talk about
being hard up for news! Folks on the Left Coast kill them all the
time - along with seals.
Interesting.0 -
It's because of Michael Vic and his interstate trading of bait stealing sea lions... 0 -
LOL ... yep! I agree. I doubt many fishermen on the West Coast are in
mourning over it's death. I'm sure the Libs in San Franwacko are
dancing in the streets![:D]0 -
quote:Originally posted by zipperzap
LOL ... yep! I agree. I doubt many fishermen on the West Coast are in
mourning over it's death. I'm sure the Libs in San Franwacko are
dancing in the streets![:D]
Dancin in there little pink pants maybe. Damn0 -
quote:Originally posted by zipperzap
I'm amazed that this story made the national news - talk about
being hard up for news! Folks on the Left Coast kill them all the
time - along with seals.
Interesting.
At last check Newport Beach is on the Left Coast. And the Left Coast from California to Washington has the most stringent seal and sea lion protection laws in the world, extending to their use even for medical research.
Your claim that folks on the Left Coast "kill them all the time" therefore amuses me no end.0 -
When I used to spear fish the sea lions would steal your yellowtail. And sometimes take all your gear also. If you shot them you would lose your gear.
Soooo. I machined a tapered hole in a golf ball, when sea lions started to come around you just put the golf ball on the stem point and shoot the seal lion. It will not penetrate the flesh. It is just like being sucker punched. That sea lion will diseaper and never bother you again. I used to hand them out when I took spear fisherman out to the Coronado Islands.
The only thing this guy did wrong was to have to many witnesses. These sea lions make a living by stealing bait and fish. They know they will not be bothered and will not have to go out and work for their dinner.0 -
I especially liked the reference to the sea lion being MURDERED!
... sounds a bit PEDAish to me.
[:o)]0 -
quote:Originally posted by Alpine
These sea lions make a living by stealing bait and fish. They know they will not be bothered and will not have to go out and work for their dinner.
Sea lions "making a living"? Knowing..."they will not have to go out and work for their dinner?"
Does this third grade anthropomorphizing help you get around the fact that inconvenience to your recreational fishing is not the issue here?
Lemme guess. You pick Door #2:
Door #1: "Look at the beautiful sunset!"
Door #2: "Look at beautiful me looking at the sunset!"
zzz-zzz-zzz0 -
Here in washington, it would be nice to say killing a sea lion was common, they take way too many salmon and steelhead. They even get in to the fish ladders to do it. We really do hate them and do not mourn the loss of a single nor multiple sea lions. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by AHansen
Here in washington, it would be nice to say killing a sea lion was common, they take way too many salmon and steelhead.
Yeah, you'd think they'd at least order biggie fries and a large soft drink to cut down on the salmon and steelhead they're taking away from YOU.0 -
Lamb chop is hittin the nail on the head. Damn straight 0 -
Here is the story as reported from our local paper (it is a rag) The Daily Pilot. http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2007/07/29/news/dpt-sealion28.txt The area he was fishing from is called The Wedge and since it is a very popular area for both surfing and body surfing so there would be countless witnesses.
Due to my time spent on Gun Broker my first thoughts were that this killing was the work of an Islamic extremist but it appears to be nothing more than an angry angler who finally tired of this free loading sea lion welfare mother (it was a female) stealing him blind. In true GB fashion we must ralley around this poor fellow who will now most likely be charged with a hate crime!0 -
Come on Gun Broker gang, lets get behind this poor fisherman. Chances are good that this sea lion was born in Mexico and had traveled up to the US in order to take full advantage of the easy life here in California. I'd wager that this welfare mother has had several pups by different sea lion fathers over the years and was just looking for a free ride. Hell, as soon as she was injured she was taken right to the hospital where she received free medical care from the tax payers. This fisherman had had enough and unlike our GB members who rant on endlessly about the need for shooting these migrants as they cross the border, this guy actually did something about it. 0 -
HobbyGuy said....."quote:
Originally posted by Alpine
When I used to spear fish the sea lions would steal your yellowtail. And sometimes take all your gear also. If you shot them you would lose your gear.
Soooo. I machined a tapered hole in a golf ball, when sea lions started to come around you just put the golf ball on the stem point and shoot the seal lion. It will not penetrate the flesh. It is just like being sucker punched. That sea lion will diseaper and never bother you again. I used to hand them out when I took spear fisherman out to the Coronado Islands.
The only thing this guy did wrong was to have to many witnesses. These sea lions make a living by stealing bait and fish. They know they will not be bothered and will not have to go out and work for their dinner.
Now I'm really puzzled. I thought you were in law enforcement? If so, why in the world would you post a statement like that on a public venue?! Something is a little fishy (no pun intended)."
Alpine is U.S. law enforcement. Coronado Island is in Mexico. Sea Lions have not always been protected. Before they were protected I have seen fishermen shoot at them openly. It is still done but not openly. I have not had any problems with Sea Lions but can see how flustrated a hook and line fisherman could get. A golf ball tiped spear gun would be a much better non lethal way to solve the problem.0 -
Sea lions were eating fish long before the white man got here. Now they eat more then you'd like them to eat? Well brother GO hungry cus I think you eat too much beef.( and if you're a veghead you eat to many vegs.) If these animals were raised for food then I can see killing them. We protect deer and the like for sport. (same as raising them) If you have ever seen a DODO bird or any other extent animal you'd know why their protected. Or is it you guys contintion we should go out and kill anything that up sets us? Then next time you up set someone they might kill you. Only just I think.
My 2 cents.0 -
HobbyGuy said...."I'm sorry chollagardens, but you missed my point entirely. His approach to dealing with sea lions back then was not at issue and I commend him for his creative non-lethal method. His comment that "there were too many witnesses" is NOT what a law enforcement officer should ever state for ANY reason! Although I am no longer in law enforcement, it pains me to hear a fellow officer make comments which support an illegal activity of any type. Killing that sea lion was wrong, illegal and I hope the immigrant ends up serving time for it."
I read it a different way. To me it was a comment on a "dumb criminal" not sympathy for the criminal or the crime.0 -
Death to all bait stealing Sea Lions, and any PETA scum that get in the fiserman's way. Yep, I said it, and I'm an LEO too.[:D]
Trinity +++0 -
I left the Cali coast many years ago, but at the time most commercial fishing boats carried a rifle. For sharks ostensibly, but I've got a strong feeling seals and sea lions absorbed their fair share of the ammo (even sea otters, if the boat is after abalone). They are smart, cute, cuddly, and will steal anything that resembles a meal. Have reeled in many a salmon, only to see the open mouth of a seal following it from underneath. Kinda spooky. 0
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