Ogo responds to recent illegal hunting incident on Rota

The Office of Representative Julie Ogo has been made aware of illegal hunting activities on Rota with the recent discovery of disposed deer carcasses at the East Dock, or Bantalan, last Sunday, March 10. This alarming incident has raised serious concerns on multiple fronts.

Firstly, the safety of swimmers is at risk due to the potential attraction of sharks to the blood from the carcasses, posing a significant threat of attack. Secondly, this discovery highlights ongoing illegal hunting activities occurring outside the designated hunting season, necessitating stricter enforcement measures to curb such violations. It also emphasizes the issue of overhunting, resulting in the wasteful disposal of unconsumed meat due to limited storage capacity. Third, contaminant leachate into our marine ecosystem is an additional threat to an already stressed environment from climate change.

As a lawmaker, Ogo is fully committed to addressing these pressing issues. The office is actively exploring amendments to local hunting laws, including potential extensions to the hunting season and the implementation of heightened penalties for illegal hunting practices.

Ogo reminds hunters of the serious nature of these violations and urges full compliance with existing laws and regulations. The office remains dedicated to safeguarding the environment and promoting responsible hunting practices on Rota.

For further inquiries or information, contact the Rota Department of Land & Natural Resources Fish & Wildlife at (670) 532-1345. (PR)