Sitka fisherman accused of dinglebar violation

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Fairweather Grounds

Type: Operate more than one dinglebar troll line

On 5/24/23 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Sitka Post, cited Joseph Daniels, 45, of Sitka, for operating more than one dinglebar troll line in the directed lingcod fishery. On 5/16/23 Troopers had observed Daniels on the F/V Amnicon with more than one line deployed on the Fairweather Grounds.

Feds bring charges in two halibut cases

The NOAA Office of General Counsel reports two Alaska cases charged in February:

• F/V Miss Linda — Owner/operator Aaron Sutton was charged under the Northern Pacific Halibut Act with failing to return undersized halibut to the sea with a minimum of injury. A $4,400 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

• F/V Vigor — Owner/operator Jarl Gustafson and IFQ permit holder Thomas W. Hoffman were charged jointly and severally under the Northern Pacific Halibut Act with IFQ permit holder's failure to be aboard the vessel at all times during the fishing trip. The proceeds ($2,717.18) of the violation were forfeited by abandonment. A $1,000 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $900.

Troller fished illegally at Sitka, troopers say

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 3/27/23 at approximately 1430 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Marcia K commercial trolling in closed waters near Cape Edgecumbe in Sitka. Investigation revealed Shane Cook, 49, of Craig, was fishing in an area closed by emergency order. Cook was cited for commercial fishing in a closed period.

Herring seiner cited at Sitka

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 4/4/23 Alaska Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Freedom deploy a herring seine west of the west closure line in the Redoubt Bay area commercial sac roe herring fishery. Investigation revealed Bruce Marifern, 62, of Petersburg, had made the set in an area not open by emergency order to commercial sac roe herring harvest. Marifern was cited for commercial fishing in a closed period.

Deceased person aboard fishing vessel reported

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Bristol Bay/Alaska Peninsula region

Type: Deceased person

On 3/26/23 at approximately 0709 hours, Alaska State Troopers received a report of a deceased person aboard the F/V Starbound. The decedent is being sent to the state medical examiner's office for autopsy. No foul play is suspected.

Another conviction for Thorstenson

At a bench trial today in Sitka, Robert Thorstenson, 59, of Juneau, was found guilty of a commercial fishing violation, the Alaska Wildlife Troopers reported.

"Thorstenson was sentenced to a fine of $3,000 with $1,000 suspended, forfeiture of all proceeds and supplemental payments for seized fish, and two years probation with a condition to not commit any further commercial fishing violations," the agency said.

The case dates to September 2021 when Thorstenson, captain of the F/V Vigilant, and Jason Moilanen, 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, the troopers said.

Troopers said they seized 5,170 pounds of salmon valued at $4,372.

Sitka troller cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka

Type: Fail to record on fish ticket

On 1/23/23 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Jeffrey Turner, 55, of Sitka, offloading commercial troll-caught salmon to a Sitka processor. After the offload concluded, troopers located unreported fish remaining onboard the vessel. Turner was cited for failing to report king salmon kept as personal use at the time of a commercial offload.