- Connor Seifert was arrested for allegedly dragging protected sharks out of the water and filming himself wrestling them.
- Seifert was caught in the act by officers in June in South Puget Sound, allegedly pulling a sixgill shark out of the water for a photo op.
- The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife received 14 complaints about Seifert's activities before launching a months-long investigation.
- Seifert has been charged with nine counts of unlawful fishing and one gross misdemeanor after a monthslong investigation.
- Seifert posted the illegal catches of sixgill and sevengill sharks to his social media accounts.
- According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, sixgill and sevengill sharks are both classified as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need.
- In clips Seifert uploaded online, he can be seen prying open a shark's mouth while stepping on its back, and holding another shark by the tail as it thrashes out of the water.
- One video provided by authorities shows Seifert straddling a sixgill on shore with its gills exposed to air.
- Seifert has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Connor Seifert, a fisherman from Washington, was arrested for illegally catching and filming himself wrestling protected sharks, specifically sixgill and sevengill sharks, in Puget Sound. He faces nine counts of unlawful fishing and one gross misdemeanor following a months-long investigation by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.13456
The investigation was initiated after the department received 14 complaints regarding Seifert's activities. Lt. Kit Rosenberger of the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Police noted, “Many people were notifying us, like, ‘Hey, this person is doing this,’” highlighting the public's concern over his actions.
Seifert was caught in June while allegedly pulling a sixgill shark out of the water for a photo opportunity. He had been posting videos online where he could be seen prying open a shark's mouth and wrestling with the animals, which are classified as a “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.278
In one video, authorities reported that Seifert was seen straddling a sixgill on shore with its gills exposed to air. An officer confronted him, stating, “You know your shark rules,” and explained the dangers of removing sharks from the water, emphasizing the impact on their populations.9
Seifert has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, which include making a false or misleading statement to a public servant.10
“Seifert's actions have raised concerns among wildlife officials, as sixgill and sevengill sharks are classified as a 'Species of Greatest Conservation Need.' Lt. Kit Rosenberger noted that exposing these sharks to air can lead to the death of their unborn pups, highlighting the ecological impact of such illegal activities.”
The Daily Beast
