Clipperton Angelfish Smuggler Fined $2,000 - Starts Jail January 30

The following release came from the United States Department of Justice for the District of Northern California:

HAYWARD MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR SMUGGLING MORE THAN 50 EXOTIC FISH FROM REMOTE CLIPPERTON ISLAND

SAN FRANCISCO  - Steven Robinson was sentenced in December to a month and a half in prison for his illegal importation of fifty-two Clipperton Angelfish, U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag announced. Robinson will begin serving his sentence on January 30, 2012.

The Clipperton Angelfish (Holacanthus limbaughi) is a rare species of fish found only in the waters of Clipperton Island, an uninhabited atoll under French authority. Fishing for the Clipperton Angelfish in the Clipperton atoll requires permission from the French government. Because the fish is so rare, each live fish can command several thousand dollars in U.S. markets and up to $10,000 in the Asian markets.

Robinson, 58, of Hayward, Calif., right, a tropical fish dealer, pleaded guilty on Aug. 17, 2011, before United States Magistrate Judge Nathaniel Cousins to a Class A misdemeanor for his role in unlawfully collecting the rare and unique species of fish and then importing the fish into the United States for commercial purposes under a false declaration. 

In pleading guilty, Robinson admitted that in late April 2009, he took a four-day voyage to the Clipperton atoll for the purposes of finding and collecting Clipperton Angelfish without a permit.  Robinson further admitted that on May 4, 2009, through his company Cortez Marine International, he imported 52 Clipperton Angelfish but labeled the fish as a different and more common species of angelfish known as Holacanthus passer or “Blue passer,” which are found in Mexican waters where Robinson was permitted to fish.

Robinson further admitted that once the fish were brought into the United States, he deceived federal wildlife authorities for several days by continuing to claim the fish were Blue passer when he knew the fish were Clipperton Angelfish.

The sentence was handed down by U.S. Magistrate Judge Cousins. Judge Cousins also sentenced the defendant to a $2,000 fine and a one-year period of supervised release.

Stacey Geis is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who prosecuted the case with the assistance of Rania Ghawi. The prosecution is the result of a one-year investigation by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service.

http://www.coralmagazine-us.com/content/rare-fish-pirates-eastern-pacific