FLORIDA TODAY (Melbourne, Florida) 07 December 07 Man arrested on sea turtle charge (Jim Waymer)
Felony charges. A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Officer David Wigley holds a green sea turtle. Wigley arrested Eric Daniel Burritt of Melbourne on Thursday night on the charge of illegal possession of an endangered species. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The endangered green sea turtle tucked under a lifejacket in Eric Daniel Burritt's fishing boat could have him facing years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines.
The 44-year-old commercial fisherman from Melbourne was arrested at a Port Canaveral boat ramp Thursday night after a state marine patrol officer found the turtle stuffed behind a basket in the bow of Burritt's boat.
Burritt, of 484 Poinciana Drive, faces a maximum of five years in prison and $5,000 in fines, if convicted of illegally possessing an endangered sea turtle, a third-degree felony.
As of late Friday, Burritt remained in Brevard County jail in Sharpes on a $2,000 bond.
Officer David Wigley of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission found the 5- to 10-pound turtle about 8:45 p.m. while conducting a random check of Burrittt's boat at the Sunrise Boat Ramp in Port Canaveral. The turtle was behind a basket that contained a fishing net. Officers said Burritt has a state commercial fishing license and had been out cast netting mullet.
"His excuse was that it was dark and he didn't know what he was putting on his boat," said Wigley. "It was totally separate from his fish."
There's a big black market trade for sea turtle eggs and meat, Wigley said. Conservation groups say illegal trade is especially a problem throughout coastal Latin America, the Philippines, India and Indonesia. Some researchers estimate 50,000 sea turtles are killed annually in Mexico and a similar number in Nicaragua, where armed guards at the beach watch over eggs during nesting season.
After Thursday's arrest, officers set the sea turtle free at the boat ramp. It swam in a few circles, then out of sight, officers said.
Don't touch it: If you see a stranded sea turtle at the beach, do not touch it. That is illegal. Call the Sea Turtle Preservation Society at 676-1701.
Man arrested on sea turtle charge