Oregon Fisherman Connor Seifert Charged for Illegal Shark Catching in Washington

Washington state authorities have charged 27‑year‑old Connor Seifert of Saint Helens, Oregon, with nine counts of second‑degree unlawful recreational fishing and one count of a false statement to a public servant. The charges stem from Seifert’s alleged capture and handling of protected bluntnose sixgill and broadnose sevengill sharks in Puget Sound. After receiving 14 public complaints and reviewing his social‑media videos, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) placed surveillance on a pier, where body‑camera footage recorded Seifert wrestling the sharks, pulling them onto shore for trophy photos. Each misdemeanor carries up to a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail; the gross misdemeanor carries up to a $5,000 fine and one year in jail. The sharks are listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need, and Puget Sound serves as a nursery for their young. Seifert pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to return to court in August.