Feds report three fisheries enforcement actions

NOAA's Office of General Counsel reports these cases charged in November:

• F/V Jennifer Lee — Owner Jennifer Lee Inc. and operator Adam Lee Swanson were charged jointly and severally under the Northern Pacific Halibut Act with failing to return halibut discards to the sea with a minimum of injury. An $8,800 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

• F/V New Venture — Owner New Venture Fisheries LLC and operator Peter T. Wilson Jr. were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with fishing for Pacific cod in violation of an inseason action, closure or adjustment. $5,031 in seized proceeds were forfeited by abandonment. A $5,750 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $5,175.

• F/V Cape Caution — Operator Kerby Glen Mitchell was charged under the Northern Pacific Halibut Act with fishing for halibut in violation of the act's annual management measures. Specifically, he possessed onboard a vessel Pacific halibut that had been filleted, mutilated or otherwise disfigured in any manner. 232 pounds of chunked northern Pacific halibut were forfeited by abandonment. A $2,050 NOVA was issued.

Fisherman charged with salmon, halibut violations

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Multiple violations

On 7/10/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers observed an offload of commercial salmon from the F/V Charity to a local processor. Investigation revealed a disfigured, suspected undersized king salmon and a small halibut onboard the vessel after the offload. Permit holder Jordan D. Lewis, 29, of Washington, was cited for retaining halibut on commercial gear in violation of IPHC regulations, mutilating or disfiguring a king salmon in a manner to prevent size determination, and failing to have photo identification available.