Archive · 27 Jul 2026
Man Charged for Illegally Catching Protected Sharks
A man named Connor Seifert from Oregon is in trouble for catching and handling special sharks in Washington's Puget Sound.
These sharks are protected because they have babies there, and stressing them can hurt both the moms and their babies.
Seifert posted videos of himself wrestling the sharks, which is against the law.
Wildlife officers watched him for months and finally arrested him.
He is charged with several crimes, but he says he didn't do anything wrong.
Connor Seifert, 27, charged with illegally catching protected sharks in Puget Sound.
Posted videos of himself 'wrestling' sharks, leading to 14 complaints.
Sharks are protected as Puget Sound is a nursery for their species.
Stress or exhaustion from handling can kill both adult sharks and their pups.
Seifert faces nine counts of unlawful fishing and one count of false statement.
- Who
- Connor Seifert, 27-year-old Oregon man
- What
- Illegally catching and handling protected sharks, posting videos online
- When
- Months-long investigation, arrested in June
- Where
- Puget Sound, Washington
- Why
- Sharks are protected species; stress or exhaustion can kill adults and pups
Wildlife Conservationists
Connor Seifert
Legality of Shark Handling
Wildlife Conservationists
Illegal to remove protected sharks from water, causing harm to species.
Connor Seifert
Claims actions were not harmful, denies wrongdoing.
- Defendant
- Connor Seifert
- Location
- Puget Sound, Washington
- Charges
- Nine counts of unlawful recreational fishing, one count of false statement
- Shark Species
- Bluntnose sixgill and broadnose sevengill
- Investigation Duration
- Months-long
- Complaints Received
- At least 14