Posted: Wednesday, October 22, 2025. 7:20 pm CST.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 21-year-old fisherman from Chunox Village, Corozal District, is facing a possible fine of over $150,000 after being accused of possessing 51 undersized conchs—a serious violation under Belize’s Fisheries Regulations.
Ender Abias Contreras appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Mannon Dennison in Court #6 of the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, where he was read a single charge of possession of undersized conchs. He pleaded not guilty and has challenged the Fisheries Department to prove its case against him.
According to the allegations, on Thursday, October 16, 2025, around 3:55 p.m., Contreras was found on a canoe in the vicinity of Dog Flea and Three Corner Caye Zone with 51 unprocessed conchs, each measuring less than 7 1/5 inches—the minimum legal size required.
If convicted, Contreras faces a mandatory fine of $150,000, in addition to penalty fines of $30 to $50 per undersized conch, which could add another $1,530 to $2,550 to his total.
With no objection from Fisheries Prosecutor Calman Hall, Magistrate Dennison granted Contreras bail of $6,000, either as one surety of the same amount or two sureties of $3,000 each.
Contreras’s case has been adjourned to December 2025, when the court is expected to begin hearing evidence in the matter.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-612-0315.
© 2025, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law.
Comments
More Belize News:
Wilmer Escobar, convicted of raping and hacking Crescencia and Josephine Oh to death in 2018, seeks to have life sentence and conviction overturned
Shell shocked: Chunox fisherman faces $150,000 fine for 51 undersized conchs
Months later man charged for assaulting ex common-law wife who was also his brother’s ex girlfriend; says she burned his work clothes
The post Shell shocked: Chunox fisherman faces $150,000 fine for 51 undersized conchs appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Wednesday, October 22, 2025. 7:20 pm CST. By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 21-year-old fisherman from Chunox Village, Corozal District, is facing a possible fine
The post Shell shocked: Chunox fisherman faces $150,000 fine for 51 undersized conchs appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
