Vessel owner-operator hit with nearly $20K penalty

NOAA's Office of General Counsel reports this case charged in May:

• F/V Sentinel — Owner-operator Arseny I. Polushkin was charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with fishing for groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska without a federal fisheries permit, failing to log a groundfish fishing trip in the Observer Deploy and Declare System, and interfering with, obstructing and delaying an authorized officer in conducting an investigation, search and seizure. Proceeds of $8,998.30 were previously judicially forfeited. A $19,750 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.