A Southern California fishing boat captain has been ordered to pay more than $16,000 after illegally dumping hazardous waste into the Pacific Ocean, according to a statement from the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
William Porter McHenry, owner of McHenry Fisheries, Inc., was found responsible for releasing “stick water”—a toxic byproduct of squid fishing—from his vessel, the Sea Pearl, without following legal environmental protocols. The incident took place on December 6, 2024, when authorities observed the vessel heading out from Ventura Harbor while discharging stick water, only to return without crossing the mandatory offshore dumping boundary.
What Is Stick Water?
Stick water forms during the squid harvesting process. Once squid are caught using nets and stored in a boat’s saltwater-filled fish holds, they release ink as they die. This ink, high in ammonia, turns the water dark and toxic. The resulting mixture is considered harmful to marine ecosystems and must be handled with care.
State and federal environmental laws require vessels to retain this stick water and transport it at least three nautical miles offshore for disposal. This regulation helps minimize damage to local marine life and preserves coastal water quality.
Breaking the Rules
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), McHenry’s vessel unloaded more than 206,000 pounds of squid at Ventura Harbor before taking back the stick water from Silver Bay Seafoods, an onshore processing facility. Surveillance revealed that the Sea Pearl exited the harbor, discharged the wastewater, and turned around without reaching the required distance beyond the state water boundary.
When a CDFW officer boarded the vessel for inspection, three of the boat’s four fish holds were completely empty. Only a small amount of stick water remained in the fourth. Navigation logs later confirmed the boat had not traveled far enough from shore to legally dispose of the waste.
The Cost of Cutting Corners
As part of a legal settlement, McHenry has been ordered to pay $16,889.39 in total. This includes:
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$8,444.69 for environmental restoration efforts
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$6,555.31 in investigative and legal costs to the district attorney’s office
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$1,889.39 for unfair business practices
The environmental restoration funds will benefit the Ventura County Fish and Wildlife Fund and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, supporting efforts to protect local ecosystems and enforce sustainable fishing practices.
A Reminder to All in the Industry
This case underscores the importance of responsible fishing operations and environmental compliance. Dumping waste like stick water close to shore can endanger marine habitats and violate public trust in local fisheries. Legal shortcuts not only harm the ocean—they result in significant financial penalties and reputational damage.
Protecting the ocean begins with accountability. Whether you’re an angler, boat captain, or seafood business owner, follow proper environmental protocols and report violations when you see them. Healthy waters mean a stronger fishing future for everyone. Let’s keep our coasts clean—because what goes into the sea affects us all.
Image/Source: KTLA
