Wednesday, January 27, 2010

The Dutch Harbor report

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

Theft, Jan. 18 — UniSea employee reported his jacket, containing an iPod and a camera, had been stolen the previous night. Under investigation.

Burglary, Jan. 22 — A burglar broke a window and entered a boat at the Spit Dock during the night. No items were reported missing.

Trespass, Jan. 22 — Officer issued a trespass advisement for all UniSea property, per UniSea management, to a man who had allegedly been seeking illicit drugs the previous day.

Theft, Jan. 23 — Stevedoring company reported one of their forklifts had been taken for a joyride and left about a half-mile away at another dock.

Liquor law violation, Jan. 24, 0220 hours — Officer observed Harbor View bar staff escorting a tipsy, churlish patron from the bar. The boor maintained a drunken diatribe against people of all races other than his own and was advised by an officer that he could be arrested if he continued with the behavior.

Ambulance request, Jan. 24, 0237 hours — UniSea security requested an ambulance for a drunken, boorish man whose head had somehow been injured by a 10-pound weight. An officer assisted EMS personnel with the rather uncooperative patient.

Assault, Jan. 24, 0243 hours — Officers learned that a drunken boor, while stumbling home from the Harbor View bar, had threatened one man with a broken beer bottle and had then gone to the UniSea weight room to pick a fight with another man. The second man, fearing injury after his glasses were knocked off his face, grabbed a nearby weight and whacked his assailant with it before fleeing from the room. Abdirahman Mohamud Ali, 26, of Washington, was arrested on assault charges.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Undersized Tanners pinch Kodiak crabber

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kodiak
Type: Illegal possession of Tanner crab
On 1/26/10 Steven Suydam, 54, of Kodiak, was cited by Alaska Wildlife Troopers for illegal possession of Tanner crab. The undersized crab was discovered by ADF&G during offload on 1/22/10 in Kodiak. Suydam is currently on conditions of release for a previous commercial fishing violation. A further charge of violating conditions of release will be forwarded to the District Attorney's Office.

A 'tunnel eye' violation at Unalaska

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Unalaska
Type: Illegal groundfish gear
On 1/24/10 Dutch Harbor Wildlife Troopers issued a summons to Zachary Matthew Nehus, 37, of Unalaska, for commercial groundfish fishing with pots that had individual tunnel eye perimeters greater than 36 inches in diameter. Arraignment is scheduled for 2/10/10 in the Unalaska District Court.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Suspicious boat leads to Ketchikan man's arrest

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Ketchikan
Type: False information
On 1/24/10 at 1558 hours the Alaska State Troopers received a report from the U.S. Coast Guard that they had stopped a boat in Bar Harbor that had its serial and boat registration numbers concealed. The USCG requested AST to respond to investigate. Investigation revealed that the operator provided false information regarding his identity to AST. Further investigation revealed that Jeremy R. Raphael, 31, of Ketchikan, was under conditions of release from the Ketchikan court for a previous charge of false report. Raphael was arrested without incident and remanded to the Ketchikan Correctional Center.

Crewman lacking license cited at Dutch Harbor

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Dutch Harbor
Type: Crewmember license
On 1/24/10 Dutch Harbor Wildlife Troopers issued a citation to Nicholas Randal Garner, 28, of Akutan, for commercial fishing without a 2010 Alaska commercial fishing crewmember license in his possession. Arraignment is scheduled for 2/8/10 in the Unalaska District Court.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Troopers out west find problems with crab gear

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Morzhovoi Bay
Type: Unlawful gear
On 1/17/10 Alaska Wildlife Troopers summonsed Benjamin K. Ley, 27, of Columbus, Ohio, for unlawful gear after it was discovered that Ley, who was the permit holder aboard the F/V Alaskan Lady, was commercial fishing for bairdi Tanner crab while using a pot that had a biodegradable escape mechanism higher than 6 inches above the bottom of the pot. Arraignment is scheduled for the Valdez District Court on 2/23/10 at 1030 hours.

Location: Unalaska Bay
Type: Unlawful gear
On 1/20/10 Alaska Wildlife Troopers summonsed Donald P. Aus, 58, of Unalaska, for unlawful gear after it was discovered that Aus, who was the permit holder aboard the F/V Good Deal, was commercial fishing for bairdi Tanner crab while using a pot that had a biodegradable escape mechanism higher than 6 inches above the bottom of the pot. Arraignment is scheduled for the Unalaska District Court on 2/10/10 at 1330 hours.

Location: Morzhovoi Bay
Type: Unlawful gear
On 1/17/10 Alaska Wildlife Troopers summonsed Alvin J. Newman, 46, of King Cove, for unlawful gear after it was discovered that Newman, who is the skipper and permit holder aboard the F/V Lady Lee Dawn, was commercial fishing for bairdi Tanner crab while using a pot that had escape rings less than the minimum 5-inch diameter. Arraignment is scheduled for the Valdez District Court on 2/23/10 at 1030 hours.

Location: Morzhovoi Bay
Type: Unlawful gear
On 1/17/10 Alaska Wildlife Troopers summonsed Tom C. Hoblet, 58, of False Pass, for unlawful gear after it was discovered that Hoblet, who is the skipper and permit holder aboard the F/V Aleut Lady, was commercial fishing for bairdi Tanner crab while using a pot that had escape rings less than the minimum 5-inch diameter. Arraignment is scheduled for the Valdez District Court on 2/23/10 at 1030 hours.

Location: Morzhovoi Bay
Type: Employing unlicensed crewmember
On 1/17/10 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted the skipper and
permit holder onboard the F/V Aleut Lady, Tom C. Hoblet, 58, of False Pass. Investigation revealed that a member of the Aleut Lady's crew was not in possession of a valid 2010 commercial crewmember license. Hoblet was cited for employing an unlicensed crewmember. Bail was set at $260 for the Valdez District Court.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Man cited at Unalaska for lack of vessel displays

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Westward Seafoods, Unalaska
Type: Failure to display
On 1/21/10 Dutch Harbor Wildlife Troopers issued a citation to Tatsuro Matlack McWilliams, 33, of Unalaska, for failing to display his vessel registration number and decal on his boat. Arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 4 in the Unalaska District Court.

Fisherman charged with keeping small Kodiak crab

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kodiak
Type: Undersized Tanner crab
On 1/19/10 Andrey Polushkin, 38, of Homer, was cited by Wildlife Troopers for retaining undersized Tanner crab taken during the Kodiak area commercial Tanner crab season.

Troopers ticket King Cove crewman

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Morzhovoi Bay
Type: No crewmember license
On 1/17/10 Dutch Harbor Wildlife Troopers issued a citation to Thomas Walter Wilson, 21, of King Cove, for commercial fishing without possessing a 2010 Alaska commercial fishing crewmember license.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

The Dutch Harbor report

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

Burglary, Jan. 11 — Burglars made off with brand new Carhartts, new sleeping bags and an old TV after they broke into a fishing vessel at the Spit Dock. Under investigation.

Traffic crime, Jan. 12 — Officer found a rental vehicle abandoned at a stop sign. Investigation revealed a member of the Discovery Channel film crew left it at that location after the transmission ceased engaging.

Drug law violation, Jan. 14 — While officers were investigating an unrelated incident, several men in a neighboring UniSea bunkroom brought attention to themselves with their boisterous merrymaking. Officers who contacted the men about the noise quickly identified marijuana as the source of their merriment. Andrew D. Lacey, 22, and Raymond B. Jones, 23, both of Washington, were arrested for misconduct involving a controlled substance.

Assault, Jan. 17 — A UniSea employee who was afraid of a man who had been behaving oddly at a party asked a companion to walk home with her. Once in her building, the woman’s companion was jumped and choked by the man in question. The assault was witnessed by two other people. Thomas M. Romero, 37, of California, was arrested for assault.

Friday, January 15, 2010

The Dutch Harbor report

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

Criminal mischief, Jan. 7 — A man who parked his vehicle near the small-boat harbor found one of his tires had been slashed. He told police a similar incident had recently occurred to a friend's vehicle, in the same area. Under investigation.

Assistance rendered, Jan. 8 — U.S. Coast Guard requested assistance with a possibly intoxicated vessel captain, then cancelled their request a few minutes later.

Fire, Jan. 9 — Officers provided traffic control while a vehicle burned at a local processing plant.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Big trawl fine among NOAA enforcement cases

At the North Pacific Fishery Management Council's December meeting, federal authorities presented a six-page report listing enforcement cases referred during the year ended Sept. 30, 2009.

Some of the cases on the list remain unresolved as the accused contest the violations.

Others, however, have been settled.

A notable example is an illegal fishing case involving the 296-foot factory trawler Katie Ann, part of the American Seafoods fleet.

Documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request show that on March 17 of last year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration assessed a civil penalty of $115,219 against the captain of the Katie Ann, Jarl M. Hogseth, and the boat's owner.

Hogseth and the Katie Ann, in March 2007, illegally trawled for Pacific cod in a western Aleutians area reserved for Atka mackerel fishing, the documents say.

To settle the case, Hogseth on April 29 of last year signed an agreement to pay $105,219, with the remaining $10,000 suspended.

The Dutch Harbor report

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

Trespass, Dec. 29 — Officers assisted a vessel captain with the removal of a perpetually intoxicated employee from his former vessel of employment.

Suspicious activity, Dec. 30 — Complainant reported a teacher from the school apparently purchased alcohol for a student. Interviews with witnesses indicated that Pamela T. Drawver, 42 yoa, of Unalaska, purchased at least one bottle of alcohol for at least one student. A warrant was issued for Drawver’s arrest.

Warrant arrest, Dec. 31 — Pamela T. Drawver was arrested on an outstanding warrant for furnishing alcohol to a minor.

Suspicious activity, Dec. 31 — Complaint about a group of revelers on the beach near the fireworks display, who were drinking alcohol, detonating seal bombs and igniting nautical flares in a potentially dangerous manner. The men were advised of the regulations regarding fireworks, explosives and alcohol consumption in public places. After two such visits from officers, the men decided to leave the beach because there were too many police officers in the area.

Suspicious person, Jan. 2 — Caller reported a vessel belonging to a friend might have an intruder on board. Officers checked the vessel and found neither any people nor signs of entry.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Troopers ticket Sitka salmon troller

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Commercial fishing violation
On 1/3/10 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Eric G. Robinson, age 62, of Sitka, after observing a commercial fishing violation on 1/2/10. Investigation revealed Robinson was commercially trolling without a valid 2010 permit card or a 2010 vessel license in possession. Robinson was issued a summons to Sitka Court for failing to have a 2010 salmon troll permit in possession. Robinson was issued a citation for failing to display a current vessel registration, with bail set at $210.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Cutter calls safety timeout for Southeast boats

The following press release is from the U.S. Coast Guard. For some reason, it fails to name the vessels involved.

Jan. 7, 2010

Coast Guard crew terminates three Alaska fishing vessels

JUNEAU — The Coast Guard cutter Naushon terminated the voyages of two 50-foot and one 45-foot commercial fishing vessels Wednesday near Craig for safety violations.

A boarding team from the Naushon terminated the voyage of all three vessels between 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. One of the fishing vessels was terminated due to an expired life raft, while the other two were terminated due to lack of a primary lifesaving device. Two of the vessels also had expired documentation.

Life rafts aboard commercial fishing vessels must be repacked annually and the hydrostatic release must be replaced or serviced in the required timeframe depending on the type.

"Life rafts and flotation devices have made the difference between life and death many times in Alaska," said Capt. Melissa Bert, Sector Juneau commander. "We take the requirement to have them on board seriously."

All the vessels were escorted by the Naushon to Craig. Two of the vessels are homeported in Craig while the third hails from Klawock.

The vessels must clear the terminable offenses prior to getting under way. All three vessels were given a compliance option that may reduce or remove any potential fines provided that the vessels pass a dockside safety exam.

The 110-foot Naushon is based out of Ketchikan, Alaska. It was under way conducting random commercial fishing vessel boardings in the vicinity of Prince of Wales Island.

The Coast Guard conducts random boardings to help ensure owners and operators of commercial fishing vessels maintain required safety equipment.

To be better prepared for an at-sea boarding, voluntary dockside exams are available. Coast Guard personnel are available to examine safety equipment, inform the owner or operator of what's right and what needs to be corrected free of charge and penalty free.

For questions or to inquire about a free commercial fishing vessel safety exam contact the nearest Coast Guard Sector or Marine Safety Detachment.