An Oregon man, Connor Seifert, is facing legal charges for allegedly capturing and “wrestling” protected bluntnose sixgill and broadnose sevengill sharks in Puget Sound. The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife released footage showing an officer confronting Seifert in June. The officer informed Seifert that it is illegal to remove sixgill sharks from the water, as Puget Sound acts as a nursery for these animals.

The department highlighted the dangers of such actions, noting the correlation between catching these sharks and the mortality of pups inside pregnant sharks. Exhaustion from being fought to shore can lead to the death of the babies, resulting in a potential decline of shark populations in Puget Sound.

After monitoring Seifert’s activities and his online posts, officers conducted surveillance to catch him in the act. The footage allegedly showed Seifert sitting on a shark’s back, holding its mouth open, and grasping its tail while the shark tried to escape.

Seifert has been charged with nine counts of unlawful recreational fishing in the second degree and one count of making a false/misleading statement. These charges carry fines and potential jail time, with misdemeanors incurring up to a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail, while gross misdemeanors may result in up to a $5,000 fine and a year in jail.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife expressed concern over increasing online posts showing sharks being illegally removed from the water. They received 14 complaints about Seifert, mostly related to his alleged targeting of sharks.

Puget Sound serves as a nursery for these sharks, making it crucial to avoid targeting them during vulnerable periods. Both species are considered “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” in Washington State, with bluntnose sixgills classified as “near threatened” and broadnose sevengills as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.