Saturday, February 24, 2024

Sablefish harvest overage case resolved

The NOAA Office of General Counsel reports resolution of the following case charged in December:

• F/V Lea — IFQ permit holder and owner-operator Robert J. Bateman and owner Laura S. Coleman were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with possessing, selling and transporting 5,459 pounds of IFQ sablefish harvested in excess of what the IFQ permit onboard authorized, a 417 percent overage. The proceeds ($11,078.57) of the violation were forfeited by abandonment. A $3,000 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued, and the case settled for $2,700.

$59,784 penalty assessed in trawl case

The NOAA Office of General Counsel reports the following case charged in December:

• F/V Vanguard — Operator Per Hesberg and owner Vanguard Fisheries LLC were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with fishing with, and having onboard, nonpelagic trawl gear in federal reporting areas open only to pelagic trawl gear; not complying with vessel monitoring system requirements; and inaccurate reporting. A $59,784 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Three salmon fishermen cited at Sitka

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Undersized king salmon
On 2/8/24 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Timothy Robinson, 64, of Sitka, during a commercial salmon offload to a local processing facility. Investigation revealed Robinson had landed one undersized king salmon and had concealed two additional unreported king salmon aboard his vessel. Robinson was cited for retaining undersized salmon and failing to report on a fish ticket.

Location: Sitka
Type: Undersized king salmon
On 2/7/24 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Cale LaDuke, 42, of Sitka, during a commercial salmon offload to a local processing facility. Investigation revealed LaDuke had landed four undersized king salmon. LaDuke was cited for retaining undersized salmon.

Location: Sitka
Type: Undersized king salmon
On 2/7/24 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Ryan Andrews, 45, of Sitka, during a commercial salmon offload to a local processing facility. Investigation revealed Andrews had landed five undersized king salmon. Andrews was cited for retaining undersized salmon.

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Federal officials update enforcement cases

From the NOAA Office of General Counsel:

• F/V American Dynasty — Medic Daniel Craig Azcarate was charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with sexually harassing a female fisheries observer. A $36,000 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued, and the case settled for $3,000.

• C/P Cape Horn — Operator Ata Ioapo was charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with sexually harassing a female observer by grabbing her buttocks without consent. A $24,000 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $6,000.

• C/P Cape Horn — Owner Cape Horn Vessel LLC and operator Peter Pack were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with fishing in a closed area. A $26,801 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $26,226.

Troopers update Cook Inlet enforcement cases

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Cook Inlet Central District
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/17/23 Soldotna Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Early Dawn commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District when commercial fishing had closed. Troopers contacted the permit holder, Abraham Porter, 45, of Kenai, and issued him a citation with a mandatory appearance in Homer District Court. Porter pled no contest at arraignment and was given a $3,000 fine with $1,500 suspended.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/17/23 Soldotna Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Cat II commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District when commercial fishing had closed. Troopers contacted the permit holder, Joshua Black, 42, of Palmer, and issued him a citation for a second commercial fishing offense with a mandatory appearance in Homer District Court. Black was given a default judgment at arraignment and a fine of $6,000.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/17/23 Soldotna Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Starshine commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District when commercial fishing had closed. Troopers contacted the permit holder, Donald Bridges, 75, of Soldotna, and issued him a citation with a mandatory appearance in Homer District Court. Bridges pled no contest at arraignment and was given a $3,000 fine with $1,500 suspended.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District
Type: Commercial fish closed area
On 7/18/23 Soldotna Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Cordova commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District in a closed area. Troopers contacted the permit holder, Yakov Reutov, 53, of Sterling, and issued him a citation with a mandatory appearance in Kenai District Court. Reutov pled no contest at arraignment and was given a $3,000 fine with $1,500 suspended.

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Vessel operator charged at Ketchikan with DUI

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Ketchikan
Type: Watercraft DUI
On 12/1/23 at approximately 12:24 p.m., the Alaska State Troopers in Ketchikan were notified that the fishing vessel Silver Surfer had run aground near Gravina Island's airport. The boat's operator, David Vest, was found to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. As a result, Vest was arrested for DUI and remanded at Ketchikan Correctional Center.

Sunday, November 19, 2023

Sitka fisherman accused of reporting violation

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Fish ticket
On 11/18/23 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Casey DiGennaro, 39, of Sitka, regarding rockfish left aboard his vessel following a commercial salmon offload. DiGennaro was cited for failing to report all fish taken on a fish ticket as required.