Oregon Man Faces Charges for Illegal Shark Fishing in Puget Sound

An Oregon resident, Connor Seifert, is under scrutiny for allegedly capturing and “wrestling” protected shark species in Puget Sound. The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife recently released footage of an officer confronting Seifert, aged 27, in June in Pierce County, Washington.

Protected Species

According to the officer captured on video, it’s prohibited to fully or partially remove bluntnose sixgill and broadnose sevengill sharks from the water. These sharks use Puget Sound as a nursery, and disturbing them can have dire consequences for unborn pups.

When you wrestle a sixgill to shore like that, you hop on its back, you expose its gills to the air. You know as well as anybody else does that Puget Sound is a nursery for these sharks.

The officer further explained the ramifications of exhausting these sharks during capture. The stress can lead to increased mortality rates among pups, potentially threatening future populations.

Seifert’s Activities

The investigation into Seifert’s activities unfolded over several months, following his actions and online presence. Officers eventually organized surveillance to observe and apprehend him during an illegal catch.

Images allegedly shared by Seifert on social media depict him sitting on a shark, holding its mouth open, and grasping its tail as it attempted to escape.

Legal Consequences

Seifert faces multiple charges, including nine counts of unlawful recreational fishing in the second degree and a charge of making false or misleading statements to a public servant. Unlawful fishing is considered a misdemeanor, and providing false statements is deemed a gross misdemeanor, carrying fines and potential jail time.

Growing Concerns

The Department of Fish and Wildlife has noted an increase in online evidence of illegal shark fishing, involving both complete and partial removals from the water.

Fishing for sixgill and sevengill sharks is unlawful, and unfortunately, officers are seeing a growing number of online posts showing these sharks targeted and then unlawfully removed from or partially removed from the water.

Seifert maintains he had no intention of targeting these sharks and claims accidental captures, yet his shared videos suggest otherwise.

The department received 14 complaints mainly linked to Seifert’s alleged shark targeting activities, underscoring Puget Sound’s crucial role as a nursery for these species.

Conservation Status

Both shark species involved are recognized as “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” in Washington State. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists bluntnose sixgills as “near threatened” and broadnose sevengills as “vulnerable.” Protecting them during vulnerable stages remains essential for their conservation.