KY officials: Suspects stole 300,000 pounds of catfish in ‘significant’ harvest scheme
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Officials uncovered a 10-month illegal catfish harvest spanning six Kentucky counties.
- Investigators say 25 people underreported more than 300,000 pounds to sell.
- Authorities plan 700+ criminal charges, citing threats to fishery data and conservation.
Kentucky wildlife officials have uncovered an illegal catfish-harvesting scheme that took place across six counties over the past 10 months, resulting in the underreporting of harvesting more than 300,000 pounds of fish.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources said 25 people were involved in the scheme, which took place in Bath, Boyd, Lawrence, Livingston, Marshall and Powell counties. The suspects allegedly failed to report the harvest of more than 300,000 pounds of catfish.
Under the scheme, those involved harvested catfish from public waterways and sold them to unregulated or illegally operated pay lakes. In a news release, the department called it “one of the most significant cases of illegal wildlife harvesting and distribution in recent state history.”
“This case reflects our commitment to safeguarding Kentucky’s natural resources,” Col. Jeremy McQueary, director of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife law enforcement division, said in a Jan. 20 news release. “Illegal commercialization of wildlife — especially through the exploitation of native fish populations — undermines conservation efforts and lawful recreation.”
The department and other law enforcement agencies investigated the scheme for 10 months, dubbing it operation River Raid. Department officials plan to file more than 700 criminal charges, including more than 100 felony counts.
“A critical piece of information to properly manage any fishery is accurate harvest rates,” Dave Dreves, director of the department’s fisheries division, said. “That is why commercial fishers are required to report their harvest each month. This egregious underreporting undermines our ability to properly monitor catfish populations, especially trophy catfish.”
The news release did not include the suspects’ names or specific charges. The department said further updates will be provided at a later time.
