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Post by bsutravis on Apr 23, 2007 13:03:11 GMT -5
Not sure of all the details, but IDNR alerted us in advance of the bust and we had our cameras down in Vevay this morning. 12 people were arrested for illegally harvesting Paddlefish for their eggs. I wasn't aware, but I guess Paddlefish eggs taste just like pure caviar, which comes from Sturgeon. They were using snag hooks and nets to catch the Paddlefish, and this was a 6-figure per year operation selling the eggs on the black-market. Anyway, DNR infiltrated this ring of poachers over an 18-month investigation and brought them down this morning.
I've gotta edit the story for the 530 news.... It should air at about 5:40pm tonight on WTHR.
Congrats to the DNR for another poacher bust!
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Post by DEERTRACKS on Apr 23, 2007 13:06:33 GMT -5
Good news. Bet those boys are going to be up the creek without a paddle!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by Woody Williams on Apr 23, 2007 13:49:19 GMT -5
Good Deal Lucille!!
Way to go GREEN!!
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Post by dbd870 on Apr 23, 2007 13:51:40 GMT -5
Good job.
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Post by tskiller on Apr 23, 2007 15:09:49 GMT -5
Good job guys. What is so f'n great about caviar anyway?
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Post by jackc99 on Apr 23, 2007 15:11:52 GMT -5
Excellent news...I wonder how many are Indiana residents and how many are Kentucky residents?
Jack
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Post by bsutravis on Apr 23, 2007 15:23:53 GMT -5
I still haven't done the edit........gonna be a crunch edit for 530! I know one of the guys has on a Kentucky B.A.S.S. jacket on. All are said to be Southern Indiana residents. Here is the Press Release: Conservation Officers bust international caviar ring Most would not view the Hoosier homeland as the base of an illegal six-figure-per-year seafood operation but that's what Indiana Conservation Officers found on the tributaries of the Ohio River, in Vevay. Undercover officers posing as illegal fishermen for 1 ½ years infiltrated the ring, the members of which were illegally harvesting and selling "caviar" from the river's paddlefish. Twelve arrests were made today on a combined 39 felony charges. A charge of "illegal sale of a wild animal" was included in each individual's list of charges. Officers also confiscated four boats, three vehicles, processing equipment, fishing equipment and records. Illicit drugs and large sums of cash were also taken from some of those arrested. Individuals charged included Albert Collins, Darrin Turner, Jerry Turner, Jonathon Turner, Keith Hodge, Larry "Pete" Barnes, Lou Rebholz, Lisa Mullins, Roger Kinman, Willard Napier, Gary McGinnis and Timothy Micah Sanger. All are southern Indiana residents. Technically, caviar is sturgeon eggs; however, there is a shortage of sturgeon in the Caspian Sea, the main source for the culinary delicacy. That has created a lucrative worldwide market for paddlefish eggs, which have a similar taste, look and consistency to the real thing. One paddlefish can yield $600 to $800 in eggs. Annual income for illegal harvesting is $100,000 to $400,000 per year per fisherman. Paddlefish can be legally harvested by commercial fishermen in the main stream of the Ohio but all tributaries, where much of the fishing is taking place, is protected because of the heavy concentrations of spawning fish there. Violators use snag hooks and nets to catch paddlefish, which are found mostly in the large river systems of the Mississippi River Basin. The fish are long-lived (males, 7-9 years; females, 10-12) and reach large sizes. The Indiana State Record weighed 106 pounds, 4 ounces. Paddlefish are not believed to be endangered; however, due to their elusive nature, researching them is difficult. Paddlefish numbers are believed to be dropping, although the fish frequently occur in large groups, especially below dams, and are highly mobile. This gives the impression that they are abundant when in fact, they may not be, according to Bill James, state chief of fisheries. For more information on paddlefish, please see dnr.in.gov/press/pr-paddlefish.pdf
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Post by Old Ironsights on Apr 23, 2007 15:59:23 GMT -5
Good job guys. What is so f'n great about caviar anyway? Effete Urban Snobs need it to help them hatch hairbrained anti-gun schemes.
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Post by cambygsp on Apr 23, 2007 16:21:43 GMT -5
Caviar is some nasty stuff, I don't eat it and know of no one who does.
I know you don't have the answers but I have a few questions.
Who are they selling this stuff to?
Don't the buyers have a responsibility to make sure the eggs were legally gotten?
Is there some kind of processing facility in the area?
If these eggs were for human consumption, it seems to me the processor would want some assurances the eggs were not tainted.
What is the shelf life on these eggs, will they spoil?
$100,000.00-$400,000.00 a year is some pretty good cash, I can't beleive there were only a dozen or so arrests!
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Post by Old Ironsights on Apr 23, 2007 16:32:43 GMT -5
People buy it and eat it in a blaze of "conspicuous consumption". I don't know anybody wo really likes it, but they have to have it on the platter at parties to show how much money they can waste on their guests. That's why you really only see it used in major metropolitan areas where the Urban Elite like to hobnob. Like I said, they wouldn't have anything to hatch into smelly ideas if it weren't for their smelly fisheggs...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2007 16:45:14 GMT -5
Hey....them's Ky. fishes....thanks to the IDNR for looking after them.
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Post by bsutravis on Apr 23, 2007 16:53:27 GMT -5
Anybody know any of the guys? Seemed like just regular Joes. It's not like they were in high $$$ trucks or boats.
The older guy (Jerry Turner) with the BASS jacket on, the front of the jacket has a patch that says, "2002 State Team _________" on it. I was wondering if this guy is a big tourney fisher, which instantly would raise some other eyebrows about his wins.......if indeed he does compete.
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Post by chicobrownbear on Apr 23, 2007 17:12:44 GMT -5
It drives the toast point market.
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Post by duff on Apr 23, 2007 17:13:35 GMT -5
It wasn't that long ago they allowed harvest of paddle fish for eggs, and I bet they still allow it in other states. There's clearly a market for it
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Post by Woody Williams on Apr 23, 2007 17:18:13 GMT -5
It drives the toast point market. EEWWWW! I 'd rather have marmalade on mine..
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2007 17:28:00 GMT -5
Anybody know any of the guys? Seemed like just regular Joes. It's not like they were in high $$$ trucks or boats. The older guy (Jerry Turner) with the BASS jacket on, the front of the jacket has a patch that says, "2002 State Team _________" on it. I was wondering if this guy is a big tourney fisher, which instantly would raise some other eyebrows about his wins.......if indeed he does compete. Placed in this Tourney. www.kybassfed.com/2006/Tourney/2006_State_Day1.htm
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Post by Hawkeye on Apr 23, 2007 17:35:37 GMT -5
I have heard the Russians are into Caviar big time.
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Post by duff on Apr 23, 2007 20:13:56 GMT -5
www.911caviar.com/american_caviar.htmlInteresting site. I was suprised to see bowfin caviar listed. Commonly known around here as dog fish. I know were we can get gobs of those suckers who wants to go in buisness with me
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Post by duff on Apr 23, 2007 20:21:46 GMT -5
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Post by shinglemonkey on Apr 23, 2007 21:19:26 GMT -5
I eat it on my sushi...guess that makes me a urban elitiest
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