Zackery Brandon Barfield from Florida who shot and killed two dolphins and poisoned them was sentenced to just one month in jail — despite admitting to the horrific, intentional acts.

This is not justice. It’s a slap on the wrist.

Barfield opened fire while two elementary school-age children were on board and, separately, while more than a dozen fishermen were aboard boats he operated, prosecutors said.

These dolphins suffered brutal, deliberate deaths, and the public was rightfully outraged. Under federal law, dolphins are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, yet this case shows how weak sentencing undermines enforcement and sends a dangerous message: that cruelty to marine animals will be met with leniency.

We call on the Florida DOJ, NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement to seek stricter punishment for Zackery Brandon Barfield for killing of protected marine animals. 1 month sentence is not enough!

Ensure that future violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act result in penalties that match the severity of the crime

Close loopholes that allow violent animal abusers to walk away with minimal punishment

One month in jail for killing two dolphins is not just disappointing — it’s a failure to protect vulnerable wildlife and uphold the law.