Troopers arrest geoduck harvester at Ketchikan

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Ketchikan
Type: Warrant arrest

The Alaska Wildlife Troopers arrested Tremaine Lawrence, 34, of Washington state, on an outstanding bench warrant. Lawrence originally was charged with taking an overlimit of commercial geoducks and knowingly recording false information on a fish ticket.

Pelican troller charged with multiple offenses

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Pelican
Type: Fish tickets, intent to operate
On 9/28/21 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Sitka Post, charged James Steven Daniels, 67, of Pelican, with three counts of failure to submit intent to operate and 10 counts of failure to complete fish tickets. The charges stem from an investigation which showed Daniels operated a commercial troll vessel, the F/V Pelican, on commercial fishing trips associated with Highliner Lodge out of Pelican from 2017 to 2020 and sold fish to clients directly without a fisheries business license and without completing any fish tickets. Daniels was subsequently charged with seven additional violations in 2021 for failing to imprint information on fish tickets as required and reporting sold fish as "personal use." Arraignment set in Sitka District Court.

Kelly Tshibaka cited over lack of crew license

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kenai Peninsula
Type: Commercial crewmember license

In July, the Alaska Wildlife Troopers opened an investigation after a social media video showed commercial fishing activity on the Kenai Peninsula. After a thorough investigation and in consultation with the Alaska Department of Law’s Office of Special Prosecutions, the Alaska Wildlife Troopers have cited 42-year-old Anchorage resident Kelly Tshibaka for commercial fishing without a commercial fishing crew license. The citation amount is $270, with an optional appearance in Homer District Court.

Seiners cited, salmon seized at Sitka

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Commercial seine closed period

On 9/2/21 Robert Thorstenson, 57, of Juneau, captain of the F/V Vigilant, and Jason Moilanen, 48, of Petersburg, permit holder aboard the vessel, were found to be fishing in waters closed to commercial seining during a seine opening in Silver Bay near Sitka. Both men were issued a summons to appear on 9/21/21 in the Sitka court for commercial seining in a closed period. Wildlife troopers seized 5,170 pounds of salmon valued at $4,372.

Man arrested at Ketchikan on drug, gun charges

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Ketchikan
Type: Drug search
On 8/21/21 at approximately 1147 hours, a boarding team with the U.S. Coast Guard in Ketchikan contacted AST to request that a Troopers K-9 team respond to the Thomas Basin harbor in Ketchikan for a canine sniff of the commercial fishing vessel Brown Sugar, which was being operated by the owner and sole occupant James Vandebunte, 58, of Wrangell. The USCG boarding team had discovered illegal drug paraphernalia and brought the vessel to the harbor for further investigation. AST obtained a search warrant prior to searching the vessel. Among other drug items seized were 180 net grams of suspected methamphetamine, multiple zip-top plastic baggies, digital scales, and a loaded .357-caliber pistol. Vandebunte (a convicted felon) was arrested for misconduct involving a controlled substance and misconduct involving weapons. Investigation continues.

Togiak man accused of setnetting without permit

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Togiak
Type: Commercial fishing violations

On 8/3/21 Dillingham Alaska Wildlife Troopers opened an investigation into the sale of commercially caught salmon by individuals who had not been issued Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission commercial fishing permits. The investigation showed Anthony Forbes, 25, of Togiak, commercial fished a salmon set gillnet in the Togiak District on 8/3/21 and 8/4/21 when he did not possess a CFEC commercial fishing permit issued to him. Forbes then used a CFEC permit issued to another individual to sell the salmon he caught to a commercial fish processor in Togiak. Forbes was issued citations for commercial fishing without a permit and supplying false information on fish tickets.

Troopers seize 23,422 pounds of salmon

Details in this press release.