Federal officials update enforcement cases

From the NOAA Office of General Counsel:

• F/V American Dynasty — Medic Daniel Craig Azcarate was charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with sexually harassing a female fisheries observer. A $36,000 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued, and the case settled for $3,000.

• C/P Cape Horn — Operator Ata Ioapo was charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with sexually harassing a female observer by grabbing her buttocks without consent. A $24,000 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $6,000.

• C/P Cape Horn — Owner Cape Horn Vessel LLC and operator Peter Pack were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with fishing in a closed area. A $26,801 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $26,226.

Troopers update Cook Inlet enforcement cases

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/17/23 Soldotna Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Early Dawn commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District when commercial fishing had closed. Troopers contacted the permit holder, Abraham Porter, 45, of Kenai, and issued him a citation with a mandatory appearance in Homer District Court. Porter pled no contest at arraignment and was given a $3,000 fine with $1,500 suspended.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/17/23 Soldotna Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Cat II commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District when commercial fishing had closed. Troopers contacted the permit holder, Joshua Black, 42, of Palmer, and issued him a citation for a second commercial fishing offense with a mandatory appearance in Homer District Court. Black was given a default judgment at arraignment and a fine of $6,000.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/17/23 Soldotna Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Starshine commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District when commercial fishing had closed. Troopers contacted the permit holder, Donald Bridges, 75, of Soldotna, and issued him a citation with a mandatory appearance in Homer District Court. Bridges pled no contest at arraignment and was given a $3,000 fine with $1,500 suspended.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed area

On 7/18/23 Soldotna Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Cordova commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District in a closed area. Troopers contacted the permit holder, Yakov Reutov, 53, of Sterling, and issued him a citation with a mandatory appearance in Kenai District Court. Reutov pled no contest at arraignment and was given a $3,000 fine with $1,500 suspended.

Vessel operator charged at Ketchikan with DUI

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Ketchikan

Type: Watercraft DUI

On 12/1/23 at approximately 12:24 p.m., the Alaska State Troopers in Ketchikan were notified that the fishing vessel Silver Surfer had run aground near Gravina Island's airport. The boat's operator, David Vest, was found to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. As a result, Vest was arrested for DUI and remanded at Ketchikan Correctional Center.

Sitka fisherman accused of reporting violation

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka

Type: Fish ticket

On 11/18/23 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Casey DiGennaro, 39, of Sitka, regarding rockfish left aboard his vessel following a commercial salmon offload. DiGennaro was cited for failing to report all fish taken on a fish ticket as required.

Bering Sea mothership nets $4,500 penalty

From the NOAA Office of General Counsel:

• M/V Phoenix — Owner Phoenix Processor LP and Capt. David Long were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with failing to submit check-in/check-out reports or have an operational VMS onboard while operating a mothership in the Bering Sea. A $5,000 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued, and the case settled for $4,500.

$26,500 fine issued over sablefish discards

The NOAA Office of General Counsel reports the following Alaska case charged in September:

• F/V Jean C — Owners Moderation Enterprises Inc., G&W Fish Co., Strom Enterprises LLC, and operators and IFQ permit holders Harley Ethelbah and John Young were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with illegally discarding IFQ sablefish caught with fixed gear when an IFQ permit holder onboard held unused sablefish IFQ and with failing to record discard information in the daily fishing log. A $26,500 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

Groundfish case settles for $47,183

The NOAA Office of General Counsel reports the following Alaska case charged in August:

• F/V America's Finest and F/V U.S. Intrepid — Owner Fishermen's Finest Inc. et al. were charged under the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 with exceeding mothership processing caps of flathead sole, yellowfin sole and Alaska plaice. A $48,183 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued, and the case settled for $47,183.