Charter Captain Sentenced to Prison
A Florida charter boat captain has been sentenced to federal prison after being found guilty of poisoning and shooting dozens of dolphins in what prosecutors called one of the most egregious marine wildlife crimes in recent memory.
Captain Steven McAllister, 52, of Marathon, Florida, was sentenced Monday in federal court to seven years in prison for multiple violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), including the intentional poisoning, shooting, and killing of bottlenose dolphins in the waters off the Florida Keys.
Federal prosecutors with the U.S. Department of Justice and officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said McAllister carried out the killings over a span of at least two years. The investigation began after several dolphins were found dead with unusual wounds and toxic substances in their systems. A whistleblower—an employee on McAllister’s boat—eventually came forward, leading to his arrest in 2024.
Deliberate and Systematic Acts
According to court documents, McAllister used fish laced with agricultural poisons to bait and kill dolphins he believed were interfering with his charter fishing business. He also allegedly used a high-powered rifle to shoot at dolphins who approached his boat, an act he justified in court as a “means of protecting his livelihood.”
“These were not isolated incidents,” said U.S. Attorney Sarah Walker, who prosecuted the case. “Mr. McAllister engaged in a deliberate, methodical campaign of cruelty against federally protected marine mammals.”
NOAA investigators linked at least 37 dolphin deaths directly to McAllister. Some of the dolphins were found with gunshot wounds; others had ingested poisoned bait. All of the incidents took place in federal waters, making them subject to federal enforcement.
Second Florida Man Also Sentenced
In a separate case announced by the U.S. Department of Justice, Zackery Brandon Barfield, 31, of Panama City, Florida, was sentenced to 30 days in prison and ordered to pay a $51,000 fine after pleading guilty to three counts of poisoning and shooting dolphins. Barfield admitted to similar acts in the Florida Panhandle, where investigators found poisoned bait and ballistic evidence tying him to dolphin deaths in the Gulf of Mexico.
“These prosecutions send a clear message,” said NOAA Enforcement Director James Lang. “The brutal killing of marine mammals will not be tolerated, and violators will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Community in Shock
The sentencing of both men has sent shockwaves through Florida’s charter fishing and tourism communities, where dolphins are beloved icons and vital to the local economy.
“I’ve known Steve for 15 years. I never imagined he’d be capable of something like this,” said one charter operator in Marathon, who asked not to be named. “This isn’t just a crime against wildlife—it’s a betrayal of our whole community.”
McAllister’s charter license has been permanently revoked, and he has been banned from working in any marine or wildlife-related business following his release. Barfield faces similar restrictions under the terms of his sentencing.
Dolphins Protected by Federal Law
Bottlenose dolphins are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, which prohibits the harassment, hunting, capture, or killing of any marine mammal without a special permit. Violations can carry stiff penalties, including fines and prison time.
“This case underscores the importance of robust enforcement of marine wildlife laws,” Lang said. “These animals are intelligent, social beings, and the senseless violence they suffered is unacceptable.”
