Kodiak cod fisherman sentenced for illegal catch

From the U.S. Attorney's Office in Anchorage:

Sept. 10, 2010

Kodiak fisherman sentenced for Lacey Act violations

ANCHORAGE — U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a commercial fisherman based in Kodiak was sentenced to four years probation, and was ordered to forfeit over $117,000 in proceeds of his fishing activities, for violations of the Lacey Act.

Thomas Millman, 73, who currently lives in Minnesota, pled guilty today to four counts of Lacey Act violations and was thereafter sentenced by U.S. District Judge John W. Sedwick.

According to court documents, Millman violated the Lacey Act by selling Pacific cod caught in violation of Alaska state law. Millman, the owner and operator of the fishing vessel Four Daughters, caught the cod in areas along the Aleutian Islands closed by the state of Alaska to protect the Steller sea lion.

Millman admitted to illegally catching over 250,000 pounds of Pacific cod worth over $73,000 during 2005.

"Enforcement of fisheries laws is an essential tool for protecting one of our nation's most valuable resources," Loeffler said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Law Enforcement, Alaska Enforcement Division (Kodiak office) conducted the investigation leading to Millman's conviction.

Aleutians crabber pinched on pot storage violation

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Amchitka Island area
Type: Failure to store crab pots
On 5/28/10 Dutch Harbor Wildlife Troopers issued a summons to Jeffrey Burnell Davis, 52, of Chinook, Wash., for failing to place his golden king crab pots into a stored condition after he checked out of the Aleutian Islands golden king crab fishery. Arraignment is scheduled for 6/30/10 in the Unalaska District Court.