Coast Guard Kept Busy By Illegal Fishing In Gulf

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) — The Coast Guard says recent poaching in U.S. waters represents some of the 1,100 instances of illegal fishing by Mexican boats recorded each year in the Gulf.

Coast Guard officials said in a statement late Sunday that the poaching annually nets about 760,000 pounds of red snapper.

Authorities say four separate Mexican fishing crews were pursued in waters off South Texas on Friday.

One boat was intercepted and the Coast Guard says its crew admitted to fishing illegally in U.S. waters. Three other boats were pursued but slipped across the maritime border after lengthy chases.