Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Troopers ticket two Tyonek fishermen

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Soldotna
Type: Fail to register
Alaska Wildlife Troopers issued a citation to 55-year-old Ernest S. Standifer of Tyonek for failing to register for his commercial fishing area for the 2009 fishing season.

Location: Soldotna
Type: Fail to register
Alaska Wildlife Troopers issued a citation to 66-year-old Daniel Standifer of Tyonek for failing to register for his commercial fishing area for the 2009 fishing season.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

The Dutch Harbor report

From the local police blotter, as reported by the Unalaska Advertiser:

Welfare check, Dec. 14 — A 911 hang-up call was received from a number associated with a local processing facility. Plant security was called and after checking the area, reported no signs of emergency.

Suspicious activity, Dec. 16 — Caller reported she didn't feel comfortable living in her new abode and reported people walking around and making strange noises in the alley near her home. An officer responded and found several male cats courting a female in heat.

Suspicious activity, Dec. 16 — Caller reported a woman being sexually assaulted in a local bunkhouse. Officers responded and caught two consenting adults in flagrante delicto.

Disorderly conduct, Dec. 17 — Officers responded to the PCR after receiving a report that two patrons were arguing in such a way that an escalation seemed likely. Investigation revealed that one party was attempting to "scare straight" the other, who allegedly allows his vehicle to idle an inordinate amount of time outside a house of ill repute.

Theft, Dec. 18 — An employee at the Harbor View Grill accused another employee of taking approximately $20 from a cash box. Shortly after the accusation was made the money miraculously reappeared. The suspect denied taking any money but did admit that perhaps his hand had accidentally fallen into the cash box. The victim did not wish to pursue charges.

Animal, Dec. 18 — A yellow Labrador retriever walked into the Public Safety building and turned himself in as lost. A short while later the dog's owner also walked into the Public Safety building. Both dog and owner left together.

Disturbance, Dec. 20 — Caller reported having heard a woman yelling on top of Strawberry Hill. Officers responded and found a stoned, drunken woman engaged in a singalong with her companion. The woman turned over a small amount of marijuana and some paraphernalia. She was advised she would be arrested if she drove.

Kodiak man accused of fishing out of season

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kodiak
Type: Commercial fish closed season
On 10/19/09 the Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Brian Blondin, 22, of Kodiak, while conducting a commercial fishing compliance check aboard the F/V Sabrina C in Uyak Bay. Blondin subsequently was cited on 12/21/2009 for commercial fishing during a closed season, failure to mark buoys, and failure to register for area.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Observer fined, banned for harassing colleague

From the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement:

Dec. 17, 2009

NOAA Fisheries observer fined, prohibited from observing for 10 years

A NOAA Fisheries groundfish observer who admitted he sexually harassed and created a hostile work environment for another observer paid $1,000 with an additional $9,000 suspended for five years and was issued a permit sanction that prohibits him from being employed as a NOAA Fisheries observer anywhere in the country for 10 years.

Benjamin Lewis Michlig, originally of Wausau, Wis., and a former employee of Saltwater Inc. and Alaskan Observers Inc., admitted creating a hostile work environment and sexually harassing another observer over a period of several days while they were housed in a bunkhouse in Kodiak, Alaska, in September 2008.

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act governs commercial fishing activities within the waters of the United States and authorizes observer programs, such as the North Pacific Groundfish National Observer Program. Observers collect catch and bycatch data from U.S. commercial fishing and processing vessels and play a vital role in providing real-time scientific data for effective conservation and management of fishery resources.

The Magnuson Act also provides heavy penalties for individuals who sexually harass or create a hostile work environment for observers.

"It is important for the entire commercial fishing industry to understand that it does not matter whether you are a vessel captain, crewmember or another observer — if you harass a NOAA Fisheries observer you will be punished," said Special Agent Frank Bonadonna of NOAA Office of Law Enforcement's Alaska Division. "The law is unequivocal and is in place for the protection of observers wherever they may be during the course of their official duties."

These violations were reported to and investigated by NOAA OLE's Alaska Division and prosecuted by NOAA Office of General Counsel for Enforcement and Litigation. The $9,000 suspended will be discharged at the end of the five-year period provided Michlig does not commit any violation similar to any of those violations charged in the Notice of Violation.

The mission of NOAA OLE is to ensure compliance with the laws and regulations enacted to conserve and protect our nation's marine resources. To report a suspected violation, contact the NOAA OLE national hotline at 1-800-853-1964.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Plenty of trouble for the Sea Venture

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Unalaska
Type: Fish ticket
On 12/12/09 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted the owner of Sea Venture LLC, Daniel T. Gunn, age 58, of Seattle. Investigation revealed that Sea Venture LLC obtained and sold commercially caught fish without first filing a fish ticket with Alaska Department of Fish and Game within the seven-day time limit. Gunn was summonsed to appear in court for failure to file a fish ticket within seven days of landing and for unlawful possession of fish. Arraignment is scheduled for 1330 hours on 12/30/09 in the Unalaska Court.

Location: Dutch Harbor
Type: Fish ticket
On 12/12/09 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted the skipper and permit holder of the Sea Venture, Gerald A. Meals, age 48, of Sparks, Nev. Investigation revealed that Meals commercially fished for and landed groundfish within state waters without first obtaining the proper landing permits. Further investigation revealed that Meals then failed to provide the Alaska Department of Fish and Game with a fish ticket of his catch within the required seven-day time limit. Meals was summonsed to appear in court for permit requirements and for failure to file fish ticket within seven days of landing. Arraignment is scheduled for 1330 hours on 12/30/09 in the Unalaska Court.

Location: Dutch Harbor
Type: Arrest warrant
On 12/12/09 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Maxwell L. Jamison, age 24, of Anchorage, while conducting a boarding on the Sea Venture at the Coastal Progress Dock in Dutch Harbor. Investigation revealed that Jamison had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for failure to appear for arraignment, original charge of unsworn falsification. Jamison was arrested, transported and remanded to the Unalaska City Jail on $500 cash bail.

Crewman cited for lack of license

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Dutch Harbor
Type: Commercial fish without license
On 12/13/09 Dutch Harbor Wildlife Troopers issued a citation to Nicholas Anthony Lovelady, 23 years of age, of Vancouver, Wash., for commercial fishing without a 2009 Alaska commercial fishing crewmember license in his possession. Arraignment is scheduled for 1310 hours on 12/28/09 in the Unalaska District Court.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Four crabbers cited for boarding ladder violations

From the U.S. Coast Guard:

Boarding teams in October issued fisheries violations to four Bering Sea crab boats lacking safe boarding ladders.

The boats were the Wizard, the Adventure, the Kiska Sea and the Kodiak.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Unlicensed crewman results in citation

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Coastal Dock, Dutch Harbor
Type: Employ unlicensed crewmember
On 11/29/09 Dutch Harbor Alaska Wildlife Troopers issued a citation to Kenneth Christian Mishler, 44 years of age, of Mount Vernon, Wash., for employing an unlicensed crewmember onboard the F/V Clipper Express. Arraignment is scheduled for 1310 hours on 12/14/09 in the Unalaska District Court.