Troopers cite Yukon River gillnetter

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: District 1, Lower Yukon River
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 6/26/16 Alaska Wildlife Troopers issued a citation to Jeffrey Agathluk, 20, of Emmonak, for commercial fishing during a closed period. Agathluk and his crewmember were observed by a patrolling wildlife trooper operating a salmon gillnet after the period closed. Agathluk was issued a summons to appear in Emmonak District Court and the salmon ticket for the fish caught after the period closed was seized.

Two Yukon River fishermen cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Pilot Station
Type: Commercial fish closed area
On 7/4/13 Kotzebue and Nome Wildlife Troopers contacted Crystal Minnie Fancyboy, 34, of Pilot Station, while she was commercial fishing on the Yukon River across from Pilot Station. Fancyboy was cited and ordered to appear in St. Marys District Court for commercial fishing in a closed area. Fancyboy was fishing in the closed section surrounding the Alaska Department of Fish and Game sonar station.

Location: Pilot Station
Type: Commercial fish closed area
On 7/4/13 Kotzebue and Nome Wildlife Troopers contacted David Askoak, 57, of Newhalen, while he was commercial fishing on the Yukon River across from Pilot Station. Askoak was cited and ordered to appear in St. Marys District Court for commercial fishing in a closed area. Askoak was fishing in the closed section surrounding the Alaska Department of Fish and Game sonar station.

Troopers cite two Yukon River fishermen

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Lower Yukon River
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/3/11, during a commercial fishery patrol via state float plane, Alaska Wildlife Troopers from St. Marys issued summonses to Barbara Waskey, 29, of St. Michael, and Ronald Waska, 40, of Emmonak, for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Two fishermen cited on lower Yukon

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Lower Yukon River
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 6/29/11, during a commercial fishery patrol via state float plane, Alaska Wildlife Troopers from St. Marys cited permit holder Robert Moore, 51, of Emmonak, for commercial fishing during a closed period. Troopers also cited permit holder John Crane, 32, of Emmonak, for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Troopers ticket Yukon River fisherman

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Lower Yukon River
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 6/28/11, during a commercial fishery patrol via state float plane, Alaska Wildlife Troopers issued Clifford Westdahl, 27, of St. Marys, a summons for commercial fishing during a closed period as a permit holder.

Four Yukon fishermen fined after guilty pleas

From the Alaska State Troopers:

On 7/15/10 in St. Marys District Court, the following entered pleas to Lower Yukon River charges:

• Louis Immamak, 35, of Emmonak, and Alexie Benjamin, 47, of Emmonak, both pled guilty to commercial fishing during a closed period. They each received $500 fines and were placed on probation for one year.

• Willie Long, 44, of St. Marys, pled guilty to commercial fishing in closed waters as a permit holder and was fined $500 and placed on probation for one year. John Long, 18, of St. Marys, pled guilty to commercial fishing in closed waters as a crewmember and received a $300 fine and also was placed on probation for one year.

Troopers charge four on Yukon with illegal fishing

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Lower Yukon River
Type: Commercial fishing violations
After patrolling commercial fisheries on the Lower Yukon River via state float plane, the Alaska Wildlife Troopers post in St. Marys cited the following: Alexie Benjamin, 47, and Louis Immamak, 35, both of Emmonak, for commercial fishing during a closed period; and Willie Long, 44, and John Long, 18, both of St. Marys, for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Two Yukon fishermen plead guilty to chum waste

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Anvik
Type: Waste of salmon — after arraignment
On 7/15/09 Aniak Wildlife Troopers received reports that fish were being wasted during the Y4A commercial fisheries near Anvik. Investigation revealed that Gabriel J. Nicholi, 35, and Richard A. Nicholi, 54, both of Grayling, had wasted at least 80 chum salmon. Both men pled guilty on 8/5/09 in Aniak District Court to one count each of waste of salmon. Gabriel was fined $4,000 with $2,000 suspended, ordered to serve 30 days in jail with all 30 suspended and placed on probation two years. Richard was fined $2,000 with $1,000 suspended, ordered to serve 15 days in jail with all 15 suspended and placed on probation two years.

Here's an earlier press release the troopers issued on July 17 about this case:

Location: Anvik
Type: Waste of salmon
On 7/15/09 Aniak Wildlife Troopers received reports that fish were being wasted during the Y4A commercial fisheries near Anvik. The Y4A fishery is directed at the harvest of chum salmon roe. Investigation revealed that during a commercial opening on 7/13/09, Gabriel Nicholi, 35, of Grayling, had failed to utilize at least 80
chum salmon and Northern pike, by cutting the fish in half and depositing them in the river. Nicholi was issued a summons to appear in Aniak Court.

Yukon River citations issued

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Lower Yukon River
Type: Commercial fishing; boating safety
During the weekend of July 4th, while on Lower Yukon River commercial fishing patrol via state float plane, Alaska Wildlife Troopers from St. Marys issued citations to the following: Robert Jones, 26 yoa, of Bethel, for failing to have any ID while commercial fishing. Citations were also issued to Simeon Phillip, 24 yoa, of Alakanuk, and Edward Post, 50 yoa, of Alakanuk, for failing to have proper vessel numbers while commercial fishing. Ignatius Murphy, 20 yoa, of Nunam Iqua, was issued a citation for not having a commercial crewmember license, and Cyril Murphy, 46 yoa, of Nunam Iqua, was issued citations for employing an unlicensed crewmember and for not being present for the operation of his commercial fishing gear. Jonathon Borkowsi, 20 yoa, of Emmonak, was issued a citation for failing to have his boat registered.

Col. Folger addresses Yukon 'protest fishery'

From the Alaska Department of Public Safety:

June 30, 2009

Alaska Wildlife Troopers Investigate Claims of Illegal Fishing on Yukon

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Alaska Wildlife Troopers are in the process of conducting an investigation into reports of illegal subsistence fishing near the village of Marshall, located along the lower Yukon River. These reports came about in part from statements made to reporters by villagers. The reports allege that residents from Marshall participated in a king salmon harvest when the season was not opened.

The Yukon River salmon run is jointly managed by both the Federal and State government. The king salmon forecast for this year was projected to be low. Alaska Wildlife Troopers participated in many community meetings before the season to help ensure the message of possible reduction in fishing times were likely. To date, subsistence salmon fishing opportunities for local residents in the area have been reduced from normal fishing periods along with net mesh size restrictions.

"Alaskans are a unique people in the fact that everyone values their natural resources. One common goal shared by most everyone is the desire to ensure future opportunities for our children to enjoy the bounties of our fish and wildlife," said Col. Gary Folger, director of the Alaska Wildlife Troopers. "Alaska Wildlife Troopers, along with citizens of Alaska, stand on guard protecting our resources across this great state. While we wish there was an abundance of king salmon along the Yukon River for everyone to enjoy, that is not the case this year."

"If in fact a protest fishery occurred, I am very disappointed," said Col. Folger. "We will conduct an investigation and if it discloses criminal behavior occurred, we will present our findings to the District Attorney's Office for review."

As with most fish and game violations, this type of crime is considered a misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $5,000 and/or one year in jail. Depending on the severity of the incident, equipment used could also be seized. The type of violation, prior criminal history and impact on the resource are all taken into account when sentencing occurs.

Monitoring our natural resources is not an exact science. Whenever possible, we want to err on the side of sustaining our bounty for the future. When protest fisheries occur, not only are participants hurting themselves, they also hurt opportunities for villages to participate along the river system, and we could easily find ourselves with a loss of the resource similar to many wild fisheries stocks in the Lower 48 states.

If you are aware of a fish and game violation or have knowledge of illegal fishing, please contact the Alaska Wildlife Safeguard at 1-800-478-3377. Tipsters may be eligible for a reward.