A drone operated by ocean conservation group Sea Shepherd was shot down in the Gulf of California, Mexico, on Christmas Eve. The vessel is currently in the Upper Gulf to protect the critically endangered vaquita porpoise and totoaba bass.
Drones have become a key tool in Sea Shepherd’s work, allowing the group to collect evidence of poaching and locations where fishermen drop their nets under the cover of night. In the morning, the crew members of Sea Shepherd visit those spots and collect the nets before the poachers can get to them.
The organization reports that its vessel M/V John Paul DeJoria was on patrol looking for illegal fishing operations when its crew observed suspicious activity on the radar at 9:30 pm on December 24. Captain Benoit Sandjian directed the Sea Shepherd crew to fly the night vision drone to investigate and found three skiffs moving through the gill net exclusion zone.
The fishermen are targeting the endangered totoaba fish to harvest their swim bladder. Like shark fins, these bladders are sought for their alleged medicinal powers and sold on black markets in China and Hong Kong for tens of thousands of dollars. Poachers set nets to catch the fish, but the nets catch other animals including the most endangered marine mammal in the world - the vaquita porpoise. Scientists estimate that there are less than 30 vaquitas in existence.
The drone evaded initial bullets but the fishermen continued to fire shots at the drone until it went down. Sunday as crew members on the John Paul DeJoria watched the footage in real time. The drone camera captured a fisherman firing multiple shots from the stern of a small speedboat before the video feed cut out.
In the past, fishermen have attempted to strike Sea Shepherd’s drone with rocks, bricks and even fish. But this incident is the first time fishermen have shot at the drones.
In the this case the bad guys shot down a drone doing good. Even if it is the other way around, remember it is illegal to shoot down a drone in the United States. For ways to deal with drones posing threats, check out our article: How to Legally Stop a Drone on Your Facility.