From the Alaska State Troopers:
Location: Nushagak
Type: Commercial fishing closed period
On 07/01/09 Blunka R. Blunka, 42 yoa, of New Stuyahok, was cited by Bristol Bay Wildlife Enforcement Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Nushagak District. Arraignment is scheduled in Dillingham District Court on 07/13/09.
Location: Nushagak
Type: Commercial fishing closed period
On 07/01/09 Geoff Wyman, 61 yoa, of Oak Harbor, Wash., was cited by Bristol Bay Wildlife Enforcement Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Nushagak District. Arraignment is scheduled in Dillingham District Court on 07/13/09.
Location: Nushagak
Type: Commercial fishing closed period
On 06/30/09 Mike Scott Saarheim, 49 yoa, of Astoria, Ore., was cited by Bristol Bay Wildlife Enforcement Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Nushagak District. Arraignment is scheduled in Dillingham District Court on 07/13/09.
Location: Nushagak
Type: Commercial fishing closed period
On 06/30/09 Andrew Charles Peitsch, 40 yoa, of Astoria, Ore., was cited by Bristol Bay Wildlife Enforcement Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Nushagak District.
Location: Nushagak
Type: Commercial fishing closed period
On 07/01/09 Kavik O. Anderson, 32 yoa, of Kodiak, was cited by Bristol Bay Wildlife Enforcement Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period. Arraignment is scheduled in Dillingham District Court on 07/13/09.
Location: Nushagak
Type: Commercial fishing closed period
On 07/03/09 Peter Erofeeff, 21 yoa, of New Angel, Ore., was cited by Bristol Bay Wildlife Enforcement Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Nushagak District. Arraignment is scheduled in Dillingham District Court on 07/07/09.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Copter spots alleged Cook Inlet fishing violator
From the Alaska State Troopers:
Location: Soldotna
Type: Commercial fishing closed period
On 6-25-09 while on routine helicopter patrol of the Cook Inlet commercial fishery Alaska Wildlife Troopers observed the fishing vessel Redoubt with ADF&G number of 55759 fishing after the closure near Ninilchik. Troopers contacted 36-year-old Iosif T. Martishev of Homer and issued a summons to appear in court.
Location: Soldotna
Type: Commercial fishing closed period
On 6-25-09 while on routine helicopter patrol of the Cook Inlet commercial fishery Alaska Wildlife Troopers observed the fishing vessel Redoubt with ADF&G number of 55759 fishing after the closure near Ninilchik. Troopers contacted 36-year-old Iosif T. Martishev of Homer and issued a summons to appear in court.
Bristol Bay setnet sites too close, troopers say
From the Alaska State Troopers:
Location: Naknek
Type: Setnet too close to another setnet
On 7/1/09 Eli Kriegh, 24 yoa, of Eugene, Ore., was cited by Bristol Bay Wildlife Troopers for having setnet gear within 300 feet of another setnet. Arraignment is scheduled in Naknek District Court on 7/10/09.
Location: Naknek
Type: Setnet too close to another setnet
On 7/1/09 Eli Kriegh, 24 yoa, of Eugene, Ore., was cited by Bristol Bay Wildlife Troopers for having setnet gear within 300 feet of another setnet. Arraignment is scheduled in Naknek District Court on 7/10/09.
Costs hit $259,265 in IFQ false reporting case
Here's more information on a federal fisheries enforcement case we first reported on June 2:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
July 1, 2009
NOAA Imposes Fine and Penalty for False Reporting in Alaska Fishery
A hired master, vessel owners and permit holders of the Alaskan fishing vessel Trident have agreed to pay more than $18,000 in penalties and $241,000 worth of sanctions for falsely reporting areas fished by the vessel on five trips during 2006 and 2007.
The violations were detected and investigated by the Alaska division of NOAA’s Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement, and the charges were brought by NOAA’s Office of General Counsel.
Under the individual fishing quota (IFQ) program, fishermen are allotted specific amounts of halibut and sablefish they may catch in specific areas in order to keep the fish population sustainable. A hired master and permit holders who fished aboard the Trident reported the catches as being taken from more remote areas when they were actually harvested in regulatory areas closer to port.
“These violations affect not only the management of Alaska’s well-managed halibut and sablefish IFQ fisheries, they are also unfair to the fishermen who abide by the rules and fish in the correct areas,” said assistant special agent in charge Ken Hansen of the Alaska division of NOAA’s Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement.
Tri Fish LLC and the owners and permit holders of the Trident have agreed to pay $10,000 for falsely reporting areas fished by their vessel. The settlement agreement also suspends vessel owner and permit holder Michael Lang’s Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands sablefish IFQ for the 2010 fishing season and vessel owner and permit holder Barry McKee’s Aleutian Islands sablefish IFQ for 2010.
McKee and Lang also are barred from hiring skippers to fish their IFQ shares for them next year. They will have to be on their boats when their share is fished.
In a separate enforcement action, NOAA’s Office of General Counsel cited IFQ permit holder Richard Swartz for falsely reporting where the vessel fished. Swartz, who is not an owner of the Trident, paid an $8,265 penalty and had 2,000 pounds of his Western Gulf sablefish IFQ suspended for one year.
Permit sanctions against IFQ and quota shares prohibit the harvest of the sanctioned pounds for the fishing year. The estimated value of the sanctions was calculated using current prices of halibut and sablefish.
A third settlement agreement bars vessel operator Kenneth Spjut from serving as the captain of a fishing vessel on the West Coast of the United States for five years. Spjut was the captain and hired master on some, but not all, of the falsely reported trips.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
July 1, 2009
NOAA Imposes Fine and Penalty for False Reporting in Alaska Fishery
A hired master, vessel owners and permit holders of the Alaskan fishing vessel Trident have agreed to pay more than $18,000 in penalties and $241,000 worth of sanctions for falsely reporting areas fished by the vessel on five trips during 2006 and 2007.
The violations were detected and investigated by the Alaska division of NOAA’s Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement, and the charges were brought by NOAA’s Office of General Counsel.
Under the individual fishing quota (IFQ) program, fishermen are allotted specific amounts of halibut and sablefish they may catch in specific areas in order to keep the fish population sustainable. A hired master and permit holders who fished aboard the Trident reported the catches as being taken from more remote areas when they were actually harvested in regulatory areas closer to port.
“These violations affect not only the management of Alaska’s well-managed halibut and sablefish IFQ fisheries, they are also unfair to the fishermen who abide by the rules and fish in the correct areas,” said assistant special agent in charge Ken Hansen of the Alaska division of NOAA’s Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement.
Tri Fish LLC and the owners and permit holders of the Trident have agreed to pay $10,000 for falsely reporting areas fished by their vessel. The settlement agreement also suspends vessel owner and permit holder Michael Lang’s Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands sablefish IFQ for the 2010 fishing season and vessel owner and permit holder Barry McKee’s Aleutian Islands sablefish IFQ for 2010.
McKee and Lang also are barred from hiring skippers to fish their IFQ shares for them next year. They will have to be on their boats when their share is fished.
In a separate enforcement action, NOAA’s Office of General Counsel cited IFQ permit holder Richard Swartz for falsely reporting where the vessel fished. Swartz, who is not an owner of the Trident, paid an $8,265 penalty and had 2,000 pounds of his Western Gulf sablefish IFQ suspended for one year.
Permit sanctions against IFQ and quota shares prohibit the harvest of the sanctioned pounds for the fishing year. The estimated value of the sanctions was calculated using current prices of halibut and sablefish.
A third settlement agreement bars vessel operator Kenneth Spjut from serving as the captain of a fishing vessel on the West Coast of the United States for five years. Spjut was the captain and hired master on some, but not all, of the falsely reported trips.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
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.
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.
'Civil disobedience' on Yukon?
State troopers are looking into reports of illegal king salmon subsistence fishing on the Yukon River, where the chinook run is weak this year.
Details today in The Tundra Drums.
Details today in The Tundra Drums.
Illegal Copper River fishing charged
From the Alaska State Troopers:
Location: Cordova
Type: Commercial fish closed period, illegal possession, waste of
salmon
On 6/21/09 the Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Cordova were given information and photographs of the F/V Sushi fishing eight hours prior to the opener on the Copper River flats. A search warrant was granted for the F/V Sushi, a 33-foot bowpicker, ADF&G #75459. The boat was located fishing on the west side of Prince William Sound and a boarding was conducted. The skipper of the F/V Sushi, a Nikolai P. Reutov, 39 yoa, of Homer, was interviewed. Reutov stated that he was seen and photographed on the night in question. A full confession and account of the facts was given. The search/seizure warrant was executed for the F/V Sushi. On 6/26/09 Reutov agreed to drive his boat back to Cordova were it was seized and pulled out of the water. On 6/30/09 Reutov was charged with commercial fishing during a closed period, illegal possession and waste of salmon. The arraignment date was set for 7/22/09 in the District Court of Cordova.
Location: Cordova
Type: Commercial fish closed period, illegal possession, waste of
salmon
On 6/21/09 the Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Cordova were given information and photographs of the F/V Sushi fishing eight hours prior to the opener on the Copper River flats. A search warrant was granted for the F/V Sushi, a 33-foot bowpicker, ADF&G #75459. The boat was located fishing on the west side of Prince William Sound and a boarding was conducted. The skipper of the F/V Sushi, a Nikolai P. Reutov, 39 yoa, of Homer, was interviewed. Reutov stated that he was seen and photographed on the night in question. A full confession and account of the facts was given. The search/seizure warrant was executed for the F/V Sushi. On 6/26/09 Reutov agreed to drive his boat back to Cordova were it was seized and pulled out of the water. On 6/30/09 Reutov was charged with commercial fishing during a closed period, illegal possession and waste of salmon. The arraignment date was set for 7/22/09 in the District Court of Cordova.
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