An Oregon man faces charges for illegally fishing for a protected shark species in Washington state, and he’s been posting odd videos online that showcase his antics.
According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 27-year-old Connor Seifert has been caught repeatedly reeling in blunt-nosed sixgill and broadnosed sevengill sharks from the Puget Sound while bragging about his unlawful catches.
In one of his bizarre videos, Seifert is seen standing on the shark’s back while forcing its mouth open, and he shared this footage on social media.
Another clip shows him with a different shark, its tail flailing outside the water, clearly struggling to return to its natural habitat.
His actions are particularly unusual given that it’s illegal to fish for sharks in the Puget Sound region. This prohibition is in place to protect the species, as these sharks give birth to young in the shallows before moving back to deeper waters, according to the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Officials reported receiving at least 14 complaints regarding Seifert’s activities.
Eventually, after monitoring his movements both on land and online, investigators arrested him.
Footage captured the moment police confronted him about his alleged encounter with the shark. One officer was heard telling Seifert, “You know the shark rules!”
The officer explained that these illegal actions could harm the shark’s offspring, emphasizing the importance of protecting them. “If we continue to fight to the shore and exhaust our physical strength, all the babies will die,” he cautioned Seifert during the interaction.
Seifert now faces nine counts of second-degree illegal recreational fishing, along with making a false statement to a public servant, as per police reports.
He has pleaded not guilty in Pierce County District Court. Efforts to reach Seifert or his attorney for comments have been unsuccessful.
