Five Haines gillnetters fined, forfeit catch value

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Juneau
Type: Sentencing — commercial fish closed period
On 8/9/12 the following commercial fishermen entered pleas of no contest in Juneau District Court to charges of commercial fishing "over the line." All of the charges stemmed from violations in District 15C north of Juneau during the July 8-11 fishing period. During the three days of fishing, a total of 175 commercial gillnetters caught a reported 340,000 chum salmon valued at over $2.3 million.

• Thomas Williams, 60, of Haines, was fined $2,000 with $1,000 suspended and ordered to forfeit the value of the fish taking during the illegal set. He was given one year of probation.

• Woody Pahl, 23, of Haines, was fined a total of $4,000 on two charges with $2,000 suspended. He was ordered to forfeit the value of the fish taken during the two illegal sets, and was given a year of probation.

• Brian O'Riley, 64, of Haines, was fined $3,000 with $1,500 suspended and ordered to forfeit 80 percent of the value of the fish taken during the illegal set. He was given a year of probation.

• Gerald Albecker, 58, of Haines, was fined $2,000 with $1,000 suspended and ordered to forfeit the value of the fish taken during the illegal set. He was given a year of probation.

• Martin L. Smith, 42, of Haines, was fined $3,000 with $1,000 suspended and ordered to forfeit $2,100 worth of illegally taken fish. In addition, Smith had $2,500 in previously suspended fines added to his probation period of two years.

Three additional cases are still pending from this fishery.