Coast Guard finds violations on two factory boats

A boarding team from the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Bertholf found violations aboard two factory fishing vessels in late April.

But the Coast Guard is withholding the names of the vessels involved, as "the violations are still under investigation by NOAA," Petty Officer Sara Francis told Deckboss.

An April 28 Coast Guard press release said one boat was targeting Pacific cod and the other rex sole.

"Both crews had exceeded their bycatch limits and had logbook errors," the press release said.

"The boarding officer was able to educate the master on logbook etiquette and issued three violations, which will ultimately improve fisheries management in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska," said Lt. Matthew Lisko, assistant weapons officer aboard the Bertholf.

The cod boat was a longliner working in the Bering Sea, while the other boat was a trawler operating in the Gulf of Alaska, Francis said.