Turtle Meat is expensive - and that's because it's illegal - but one man who got caught with it has found out how truly expensive it can be.
Belizean Fisherman Daniel Hughes is facing his first conviction after being caught with 14 pieces of turtle meat which is prohibited by the Fisheries Department. The incident occurred in March of this year where the turtle meat was found inside a cooler in his yard.
Hughes appeared unrepresented in court today before magistrate Mannon Dennison who read him a charge of possession of Prohibited fish, that is 14 pieces of Hawksbill turtle meat. He pleaded guilty and was fined $1,000 dollars per piece of turtle meat which totaled to $14,000 dollars in addition to a $5,000 fine. So Hughes has to pay $19,000 in fines by July 31st 2026 or face a year in prison.
