The world's largest company was presented with the huge bill after the European commission ruled that a sweetheart tax deal between Apple and the Irish tax authorities amounted to illegal state aid.

There's a real need for a program of workshops like this -- port State controls are so important in stamping out illegal fishing," says Swan.

One option would be to place them on a list of injurious species under the federal Lacey Act, which would make it illegal to import the snakes or carry them across state lines.