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United States v. Rioseco (1988)
Charge: Lacey Act (foreign EEZ fishing)Court: U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th CircuitState: FloridaDocket: Whose Waters?
May a country make it a crime at home to hold and import fish taken in breach of another country's fishing law?
The facts
The Defendant captained a fishing boat on a bank inside a neighbouring country's offshore fishing zone. That country requires a license to fish there and he held none. A patrol vessel put five armed officers aboard, told the crew to wait on the back deck, asked him about his fishing, then asked about the license. He was charged at home with holding and bringing back fish taken in breach of the foreign country's law.
You have the facts the court had. Guilty or not guilty? Call it in the game with your friends, then see what the court actually decided. Wrong call, you drink.
Citation: United States v. Rioseco, 845 F.2d 299 (11th Cir. 1988)
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