A Massachusetts fisherman pulled in an 881-pound tuna this week only to have the federal authorities just take it away. It seems like a libertarian twist on the basic novella by Ernest Hemingway, The Old Guy and the Sea, but for Carlos Rafael, the saga is fully genuine.

Rafael and his crew were using nets to catch bottom-dwellers when they inadvertently snagged the large tuna. Nonetheless, federal fishery enforcement agents took control of the behemoth when the boat returned to port. The explanation for the seizure was procedural: While Rafael had the appropriate permits, fishermen are only permitted to catch tuna with a rod and reel.

It would look that in contrast to the fictional New England shark hunters in Jaws, Rafael didn’t need a even larger boat, just a far better allow.

In an job interview with the Regular-Occasions of New Bedford, Rafael disputes the claims from the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) enforcement division that the humungous tuna was trawled from the bottom of the Atlantic. &quotThey failed to catch that fish on the bottom,&quot he said. &quotThey possibly acquired it in the mid-h2o when they ended up environment out and it just received corralled in the web. That only takes place the moment in a blue moon.&quot

And even though Rafael is denied the mom of all fish stories, the federal impoundment of his catch also signifies he’s most likely dropping out on a big payday. A 754-pound tuna lately offered for almost $ 396,000. NOAA regulators do not share any of the proceeds from the fish’s eventual sale with a fisherman identified in violation of federal policies.

&quotThey mentioned it had to be caught with rod and reel,&quot a disappointed Rafael mentioned. &quotWe did not try out to conceal something. We did every thing by the e-book. No person ever told me we could not catch it with a web.&quot

Rafael states he has meticulously ready for a large catch like this, getting fifteen tuna permits around the previous 4 years for his groundfish boats. He even quickly referred to as a &quotbluefin tuna scorching line&quot (yes, such things exist) to report his catch. &quotI needed to promote the fish although it was fresh new rather of letting it age on the boat,&quot he explained. &quotIt was a stunning fish.&quot

Proceeds of the sale from the fish will be held in an account until finally the situation is resolved, in accordance to the Countrywide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Workplace of Legislation Enforcement. &quotThe make a difference is even now below investigation,&quot mentioned Monica Allen, deputy director with NOAA Fisheries public affairs. &quotIf it is determined that there has been a violation, the income will go into the asset forfeiture fund.&quot

You can observe Rafael make clear what occurred below.