Authorities shut down illegal charter boats in Florida

DESTIN, Fla. — Authorities have shut down more than 30 illegal charter boats, mostly in the Florida Panhandle.

The Northwest Florida Daily News reports that most of the vessels were based in Destin. Two others were in Panama City and another in Orange Beach, Alabama.

The U.S. Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Okaloosa County and Destin teamed up on the investigation for more than three months.

Authorities began the crackdown after a passenger aboard an illegal charter boat died in April.