2 Fla. men sentenced for illegally lobster harvest
Published: Aug 21, 2012 10:20 AM EDT
Updated: Aug 21, 2012 10:20 AM EDT


 

 

Key West, Fla. (AP) - A federal judge has sentenced two Florida Keys men for illegally harvesting spiny lobsters.
    
The Miami Herald (http://hrld.us/OKZ5L9 ) reports the judge ruled Monday that Michael W. Kimbler should spend nine months in jail and serve one year of probation. Michael Blarnd didn't receive jail time because he helped with the investigation, but will serve a year of probation.
    
The judge ordered both men to turn over their boats.
    
The Herald reports the men admitted trying to lure lobsters by placing artificial habitats in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
    
The newspaper reports the men used a commercial dive endorsement from a third party to sell the lobsters to a wholesale dealer in Key West.
    
The men have removed the artificial structures at their own expense.
    
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Information from: The Miami Herald, http://www.herald.com

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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