Zackery Brandon Barfield, 31, of Panama City, Florida, was sentenced to 30 days in prison and ordered to pay a $51,000 fine for three counts of poisoning and shooting dolphins, violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. The sentencing was announced by Michelle Spaven, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Barfield, a licensed charter and commercial fishing captain, poisoned bottlenose dolphins from 2022 to 2023 by placing methomyl, a highly toxic pesticide, inside baitfish to kill dolphins feeding on red snapper caught by his clients. Despite knowing methomyl’s dangerous environmental effects, he continued this practice for months.
In addition to poisoning, Barfield shot dolphins with a 12-gauge shotgun during fishing trips in December 2022 and summer 2023. On one occasion, he killed a dolphin immediately in front of two elementary-aged children on board; on another, he shot at dolphins in the presence of over a dozen fishermen.
Acting United States Attorney Michelle Spaven said, “The Gulf of America is a vital natural resource. 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. With our dedicated law enforcement partners, we will ensure that the coastal waters remain safe for our citizens and its wildlife.”
Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division stated, “Barfield was a longtime charter and commercial fishing captain. He knew the regulations protecting dolphins, yet he killed them anyway — once in front of children. This sentence demonstrates our commitment to enforcing the rule of law. It should deter others from engaging in such conduct.”
Paige Casey, Acting Assistant Director of NOAA OLE Southeast Division, added, “These cruel and unnecessary deaths may have gone unsolved without the determination and expertise of our investigator and the close working relationship we have with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Department of Justice’s Environmental Crimes Section and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida. The subject’s actions were intentional and heartless, and we’ll continue to pursue any harmful acts against marine mammals. Egregious crimes such as in this case have serious consequences.”
Captain Mike Godwin of FWC Investigations Northwest Region said, “We are proud to work alongside our partner agencies to bring Zachary Barfield to justice. His actions were cruel, illegal, and a threat to the Gulf’s marine life. This case shows the power of teamwork and our shared commitment to protecting Florida’s wildlife and holding offenders accountable.”
The National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement conducted the investigation with assistance from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The case was prosecuted by Environmental Crimes Section Senior Trial Attorney Patrick Duggan and Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo.
Barfield’s prison sentence will be followed by a 1-year term of supervised release.
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