American captain jailed for poisoning 70 dolphins with deadly pesticide

Zackery Brandon Barfield, 31, was sentenced to 30 days in prison and ordered to pay $51,000 in fines after pleading guilty to violating both the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.

"The defendant's selfish acts are more than illegally poisoning and shooting protected animals. They are serious crimes against public resources, threats to the local ecosystem, and a devastating harm to a highly intelligent and charismatic species," U.S. Attorney Michelle Spaven said in a May 23 statement, as reported by USA Today.

Barfield, who has operated fishing charters in Panama City since 2014, allegedly became enraged in 2022 when dolphins began snatching fish caught by his clients. Prosecutors said he retaliated by lacing bait with methomyl, an extremely toxic pesticide, and tossing it into the water whenever dolphins approached his vessel.

From December 2022 through the summer of 2023, Barfield also used firearms to shoot at dolphins during trips, according to NBC News.

Authorities were tipped off by a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) agent in 2023. A two-year investigation followed, ultimately linking Barfield to the poisoning of up to 70 dolphins.