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.

Catcher-processor owner, operator charged

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

• C/P Cape Horn — Owner Cape Horn Vessel LLC and operator Peter Pack were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with fishing in a closed area. A $26,801 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

Processor OBI settles case for $10,800

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

• Shoreside processor OBI Seafoods LLC and plant manager James Nelson Turner were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with exceeding the applicable rockfish program processing cap for sablefish by 4,987 pounds, a 1.4 percent overage. A $12,000 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued, and the case settled for $10,800.