An Oregon man, Connor Seifert, 27, is facing charges for allegedly illegally catching and handling protected bluntnose sixgill and broadnose sevengill sharks in Puget Sound, Washington. The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife released body camera footage of an officer confronting Seifert in June, where the officer reminded him of the regulations regarding these species. The officer stated that removing these sharks from the water can lead to the mortality of their pups, which is a significant concern for the local shark population.
Following months of investigation, including surveillance of Seifert's activities and social media posts, he has been charged with nine counts of unlawful recreational fishing in the second degree and one count of making a false or misleading statement to a public servant. The unlawful fishing charges are misdemeanors, while the false statement charge is classified as a gross misdemeanor.
If convicted, Seifert could face fines and jail time, with misdemeanors carrying penalties of up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail, and gross misdemeanors carrying penalties of up to $5,000 and one year in jail. The department noted that fishing for these shark species is illegal, and they have received multiple complaints regarding Seifert's actions. Both shark species are classified as Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Washington State, with bluntnose sixgills listed as near threatened and broadnose sevengills as vulnerable.