Alaska Fisherman's $127K Illegal Catch and Sperm Whale Attack Lead to Prison

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Alaska fisherman Dugan Paul Daniels faces six months behind bars after pleading guilty to falsifying records and attempting to kill an endangered sperm whale.

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The 55-year-old commercial fisherman directed a crew member to shoot the whale, tried ramming it with his boat, and attempted to trap it in fishing gear.

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Daniels sent messages wishing he "had a cannon to blow the f*** out of the water" and stating "the feds are shut down and I don't care.

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Beyond attacking the protected whale, Daniels falsified fishing records to hide $127,528 worth of sablefish illegally harvested from state waters.

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Federal officials never found a sperm whale carcass, but the attempt alone violated the Endangered Species Act as an illegal "take" of an endangered species.

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In addition to prison time, Daniels must pay a $25,000 fine, complete 80 hours of community service, and faces a one-year commercial fishing ban.

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The court emphasized Daniels' 20 years of fishing experience and the need to deter others from similar conduct that threatens Alaska's marine resources.

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Officials noted this appears to be the first case in Alaska—and possibly nationally—where a fisher attempted to kill a whale in retaliation for interfering with fishing.

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Prosecutors described Daniels' actions as showing "total disrespect for whales and the laws that protect them" in their sentencing recommendation.

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