February 19, 2015 — A Cape May County man has been charged with shooting at pilot whales off the New Jersey coast after surrendering to U.S. Marshals, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced on Thursday.
Daniel Archibald, 27, of Cape May, is charged with one count of violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act. He was released on $10,000 unsecured bond, with travel restricted to the United States, except for fishing in international waters following his first court appearance in Newark Thursday afternoon.
He is required to surrender all firearms and firearms purchaser identification cards and is prohibited from using or possessing a firearm on land or sea.
Archibald, a tuna fisherman, allegedly shot at pilot whales while aboard the fishing vessel “Capt Bob,” according to the complaint unsealed on Thursday.
Pilot whales are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, a statute that prohibits the hunting, killing, capture or harassment of any marine mammal. Harassment under the statute includes any act of pursuit, torment or annoyance that has the potential to injure a marine mammal in the wild.
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