Wrangell man charged with fish ticket violation

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Wrangell

Type: Fish ticket

On 12/11/22 Sean Gould, of Wrangell, was issued summons to appear in court for failure to finalize and submit a fish ticket associated with landing of his commercial Dungeness crab.

Man charged at Kodiak with sablefish overage

Details in this press release from the Alaska State Troopers.

Halibut seized at Homer

Details in this news release from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Feds detail costly enforcement actions

A federal enforcement report submitted to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council includes these case updates:

• F/V Aldebaran — Operator Terry Fisher was charged under the Magnuson‐Stevens Act with assaulting, sexually harassing, and harassing a fisheries observer assigned to his vessel. A $24,000 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued and the case settled for $21,600.

• C/P Bristol Leader — Owner Bristol Leader Fisheries LLC and operator Joseph Pohl were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson‐Stevens Act with two counts of conducting directed fishing for Pacific cod in Steller sea lion protection areas. A $34,425 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $32,025.

• F/V Magnus Martens — Owner Magnus A. Martens LLC and operator Jeb Phillips were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson‐Stevens Act with operating a vessel in the Bering Sea Pacific cod pot fishery without carrying an operable NMFS‐approved vessel monitoring system and without complying with VMS requirements. A $36,000 NOVA was issued, and the case and the settled for $24,000.

Sitka man cited over lingcod bycatch

Details in this press release from the Alaska State Troopers.

Man arrested in reported assault on fishing vessel

Details in this press release from the Alaska State Troopers.

Sitka fisherman charged with sablefish overage

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Quota overage

On 9/23/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited Marsha Howard, 69, of Sitka, for landing sablefish in excess of the legal equal quota share for the Northern Southeast Inside Subdistrict sablefish fishery. The value of the overage was seized.

Troopers charge an Australian

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Elfin Cove
Type: Unsworn falsification

On 8/7/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers found that Jacob Kumma, 36, of Australia, was possibly making false statements on commercial fishing documents as well as sportfishing documents. On 9/13/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers were able to locate Kumma in Elfin Cove, where he claimed to live. Investigation revealed Kumma had made false statements on both his commercial fishing permit and sportfishing license as he is a resident of Australia. He was charged with unsworn falsification and issued a citation for false statement on a license application.

Dungeness crabber charged at Kodiak

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kodiak
Type: Undersized Dungeness crab

On 9/9/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers conducted a dockside boarding of the F/V Ambassador and charged Scott Badger, 52, of Ocean Park, Wash., with retention of undersized crab during the Kodiak commercial Dungeness crab fishery.

Sitka troller kept undersized kings, troopers say

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Undersized king salmon
On 8/23/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Ryan Andrews, 43, of Sitka, during a commercial troll offload to a local processor. Investigation revealed Andrews had retained three king salmon less than 28 inches in length. He was cited with an arraignment set in Sitka District Court.

900 pounds of halibut seized

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Sportfishing violations

On 8/12/22 at approximately 1730 hours, the Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted the commercial fishing tender Alaska Chieftain. Investigation revealed multiple sportfishing violations. Approximately 900 pounds of halibut was seized and vessel captain Kapp Fredrick, 52, of Washington, was given a summons to appear in the Sitka court. Crewmember Jason Lang, 44, of Washington, was cited for unlawful possession of two yelloweye rockfish. Crewmember Patrick Stewart, 55, of Florida, was issued a citation for unlawful sportfish gear. Crewmember Andrew Wegmann, 29, of Los Angeles, was issued a citation for unlawful sportfishing gear.

Troller nets $4,000 fine in Sitka court

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Conviction

On 6/30/22 at approximately 1753 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers on patrol offshore of Kruzof Island observed the F/V Tyee with commercial troll fishing gear in the water unlawfully prior to the commercial salmon opening on 7/1/22. Investigation revealed Lucas Skordahl, 38, of Sitka, was operating power troll gear prior to the open season. On 7/26/22 in Sitka District Court, Skordahl pled guilty to one misdemeanor count of commercial fishing during a closed period. He was fined $8,000 with $4,000 suspended and placed on probation for one year.

Oregon man charged at Sitka with multiple offenses

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Multiple offenses

On 8/5/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited Daniel J. Eells, 55, of Oregon, for retaining undersized commercial king salmon and failing to indicate partial delivery on fish tickets. Eells also was cited for retaining lingcod bycatch during a closed season.

Arrest made after reported assault on fishing vessel

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Craig
Type: Assault
On 7/27/22 at approximately 1900 hours, the Alaska State Troopers on Prince of Wales received a report of an assault that occurred on a fishing vessel in the waters just outside the city of Craig. Investigation revealed Bradly Ross, 51, of Washington, had assaulted another crewmember on the boat by grabbing the crewmember then pushing his arm against his throat, making it so he couldn't breathe or speak for a short time. The dispute occurred after the crewmember drank some of Bradly's orange juice. Brady was remanded to the Craig jail on a charge of assault in the second degree and held without bail.

A few more Bristol Bay fishermen cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Naknek-Kvichak District
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/6/22 Marcus Fox, 42, from Naknek, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for two counts of commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Ugashik District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/9/22 Dean Peper, 63, from Seattle, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Nushagak District
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/11/22 Lathan Petska, 28, from Elyria, Neb., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Naknek-Kvichak District
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/11/22 Brian Allison, 61, from Oak Harbor, Wash., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Ugashik District
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 7/5/22 Aaron Cexton, 44, from Williston, N.D., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Location: Naknek-Kivchak District
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 6/30/22 Vito Liberati, 64, from Pittsburg, Calif., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Washington man accused of multiple falsehoods

Details in this press release.

Troopers cite another Bristol Bay fisherman

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Egegik District
Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/13/22 Robert Young, 57, from Chehalis, Wash., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Three more Bristol Bay fishermen cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Naknek-Kvichak District

Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/14/22 Thomas Tormala, 43, from Kodiak, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Naknek-Kvichak District
Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/15/22 Nicholas Nebesky, 33, from Anchorage, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Location: Egegik District
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/15/22 Jared Porter, 44, from Homer, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Troopers cite several Bristol Bay fishermen

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Naknek-Kvichak District

Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/2/22 Steven Knowles, 33, from Kodiak, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Naknek-Kvichak District
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/9/22 John Neff, 33, from Kodiak, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Naknek-Kvichak District
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/12/22 Robert Backman, 58, from Aberdeen, Wash., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Naknek-Kvichak District
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 7/13/22 Erik Maudslien, 41, from Seattle, and Kyle Oster, 24, from Poulsbo, Wash., were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 6/23/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Robert H. Heavener, 40, from Chugiak. Heavener was cited for commercial fishing during a closed period.

More Bristol Bay fishermen cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Naknek-Kvichak District
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/10/22 Monty McIntyre, 67, from Bellingham, Wash., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Egegik District
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 7/12/22 Michael Gallatin, 58, and Ricky Guttormson, 45, both from Anacortes, Wash., were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Bristol Bay fishermen cited for various offenses

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/9/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Thomas Henry Loomis, 40, from Hawaii, and Gregory T. Salyer, 32, from Los Angeles, Calif. Both were cited for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Failure to report lost setnet
On 7/14/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted permit holder Katirina R. Mowrer, 22, from Dillingham. Mowrer was cited for failing to report a lost setnet as required.

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/12/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Sarah M. Morrow, 29, and William B. Manchester, 34, both from Liberty Lake, Wash. Morrow and Manchester were cited for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Overlength gillnet
On 7/7/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Taylor S. Barhan, 28, from Maplewood, Minn. Barhan was cited for commercial fishing with an overlength gillnet. The gillnet was seized.

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/12/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Matthew S. Schuette, 46, from Amarillo, Texas. Schuette was cited for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Another Bristol Bay fisherman cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/11/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Christopher R. Mitchell, 35, from Bellingham, Wash. Mitchell was cited for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Several fishermen cited at Bristol Bay

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Naknek-Kvichak District
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 7/3/22 Drew Wise, 64, from Everett, Wash., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/9/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Trefon W. Yako, 34, and Albert H. Roehl, both from Dillingham. Both were cited for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Naknek-Kvichak District
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/4/22 Fred Angasan, 78, from South Naknek, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Egegik District
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 7/5/22 Mark Peterson, 55, from Kirkland, Wash., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Location: Naknek-Kvichak District
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/9/22 Brent Cathey, 53, from Fritz Creek, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 6/29/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Damian Serebrekoff, 22, from Homer. Serebrekoff was cited for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Troopers cite two Bristol Bay fishermen

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Naknek-Kvichak District

Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/1/22 Ryan Aspelund, 34, from Wasilla, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Naknek-Kvichak District
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 7/3/22 Adam Murry, 55, from Monterey, Calif., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters.

More fishermen cited at Bristol Bay

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/11/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted James H. Bingman, 85, from Dillingham. Bingman was cited for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Naknek-Kvichak District

Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 6/25/22 Joshua Klein, 47, from Vancouver, Wash., and Eugene Lachelt, 65, from Henderson, Nev., were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Council thanks Coast Guard for enforcement efforts

Here's the letter.

Bristol Bay fishermen cited for various offenses

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Egegik District
Type: Waste of salmon
On 7/8/22 Sean E. Braman, 56, and Tammy L. Braman, 55, both from Wasilla, were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for waste of salmon.

Location: Egegik
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/9/22 Timothy Vardy, 67, from Stanwood, Wash., and Carly Quinn, 34, from Seattle, were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Egegik
Type: Interfere with commercial fish gear
On 7/9/22 Lucas Hancox, 39, from Gallatin Gateway, Mont., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for interfering with commercial fish gear.

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/9/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted David G. Schwantes, 50, from Aleknagik. Schwantes was cited for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Bristol Bay fisherman cited over lost driftnet

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Fail to report lost driftnet

On 7/7/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted commercial fishermen Gerald H. Harvey, 42, from McCleary, Wash., and Jason Edwin Mitchell, 41, from Sand Point. Mitchell was cited for failing to report a lost drift gillnet and for employing an unlicensed crewmember. Harvey was cited for failing to possess a valid 2022 crewmember license.

Trio cited at Bristol Bay

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/3/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Alexander C. Jones, 27, from Winthrop, Wash.; Derek C. Alumbaugh, 23, from Twisp, Wash.; and Sean T. Winn, 22, from Oakland, Ore. All were cited for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Bristol Bay fisherman cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/3/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Matthew Schuette, 46, from Amarillo, Texas. Schuette was cited for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Fisherman charged with salmon, halibut violations

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Multiple violations

On 7/10/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers observed an offload of commercial salmon from the F/V Charity to a local processor. Investigation revealed a disfigured, suspected undersized king salmon and a small halibut onboard the vessel after the offload. Permit holder Jordan D. Lewis, 29, of Washington, was cited for retaining halibut on commercial gear in violation of IPHC regulations, mutilating or disfiguring a king salmon in a manner to prevent size determination, and failing to have photo identification available.

Two more Bristol Bay fishermen cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 7/2/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Cody L. Shaw, 18, and Michael K. Bowen, 66, both from Cordova. Both were cited for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Bristol Bay fishermen accused of various offenses

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Egegik District
Type: Grounding prohibited
On 7/1/22 Geoffrey L. Stevens, 66, from Lakewood, Wash., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for grounding prohibited.

Location: Egegik District
Type: Waste of salmon
Sean E. Braman, 56, and Tammy L. Braman, 55, both from Wasilla, were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for waste of salmon.

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Lost driftnet
On 7/2/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Jobe Abraham Jr., 51, from Chefornak. Abraham was cited for failing to report a lost drift gillnet.

More Bristol Bay fishermen cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Egegik District
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 7/2/22 Andrew Thurmond, 34, from La Conner, Wash., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Location: Egegik District
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 7/4/22 David J. O'Brien, 38, and Jon M. Levan, both from Kodiak, were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Location: Egegik District
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 7/2/22 Juan Carlos Penaloza-Sanchez, 52, from Kodiak, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 7/3/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted John M. Bennett, 59, from Vail, Ariz., and Anthony M. Urie, 72, from Ferndale, Wash. Both were cited for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Sitka troller cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka

Type: Commercial troll closed period

On 6/30/22 at approximately 1753 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers on patrol offshore of Kruzof Island observed the F/V Tyee with commercial troll fishing gear in the water unlawfully prior to the commercial salmon opening on 7/1/22. Investigation revealed Lucas Skordahl, 38, of Sitka, was operating power troll gear prior to the open season. Arraignment was set in Sitka District Court.

More commercial fishermen cited at Bristol Bay

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Egegik District
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/8/22 Jerold Vantrease, 64, from Homer, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in a closed period.

Location: Egegik District
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 7/5/22 Andrey Martushev, 41, from Homer, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Location: Egegik District
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 6/30/22 Mark Prater, 67, from Seattle, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Three more cited at Bristol Bay

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 7/3/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Daniel S. Wise, 30, from Farmersville, Texas. Wise was cited for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 7/3/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted permit holders John R. Montecucco, 57, from Vashon, Wash., and Helen A. Roe, 29, from Santa Rosa, Calif. Both were cited for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Three fishermen cited at Bristol Bay

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 7/3/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Michael W. Morgan, 61, from Freeland, Wash., and Cole M. Steffens, 37, from Sequim, Wash. Both were cited for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/5/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Chad A. Reel, 58, from Wasilla. Reel was cited for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Bristol Bay fisherman cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 6/29/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Peter E. Basargin, 44, from Homer. Basargin was cited for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Troopers cite more fishermen at Bristol Bay

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 7/5/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Ty C. Anderson, 43, from Kodiak. Anderson was cited for commercial fishing during a closed period and for failing to mark his vessel as operating as a single permit holder.

Location: Egegik District
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 7/2/22 Raymond Boll, 58, from Tucson, Ariz., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Location: Egegik District
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 6/30/22 Derek M. Stephens, 40, from Nampa, Idaho, and Steven Squires, 46, from Juneau, were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Four fishermen cited at Bristol Bay

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Egegik District
Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 6/30/22 Westin Mackenzie, 27, from Anacortes, Wash., and Shayne Roffey, 26, from Ketchikan, were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/3/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Gordon D. Parker, 30, and Anthony D. Resetarits, 30, both from Zenia, Calif. Both were cited for commercial fishing in closed waters.

More fishermen cited in Bristol Bay

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 6/28/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Kyle E. Lints, 39, from Homer, and Jaime A. Hernandez, 39, from Fritz Creek. Lints and Hernandez were both cited for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 6/29/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Christopher R. Mitchell, 35, from Bellingham, Wash. Mitchell was cited for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Five fishermen cited at Bristol Bay

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Egegik
Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 6/25/22 Kyle M. Gleason, 41, from San Rafael, Calif., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in a closed period.

Location: Egegik
Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 6/29/22 Dylan R. Schols, 32, from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Location: Egegik
Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 6/27/22 Kevin Currier, 45, from Juneau, and Nicholas Heidersdorf, 23, from Corvallis, Ore., were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in a closed period.

Location: Egegik
Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 6/19/22 Emma T. Privat, 31, from Homer, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Two more Bristol Bay fishermen cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Egegik
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 6/28/22 Dylan Schols, 32, from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in a closed period.

Location: Egegik
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 6/27/22 Nathanael S. Sconce, 32, and Andrew M. Sconce, 30, both from Watford City, North Dakota, were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in a closed period.

Bristol Bay fisherman cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Egegik
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 6/24/22 Trey A. Johnson, 37, of Seward, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Wrangell seiner charged with multiple offenses

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Wrangell

Type: Commercial fishing violations

On 6/23/22 Mark Stevens, of Wrangell, was issued a summons for three counts of commercial seine fishing in closed waters and one count of falsifying fish tickets.

Ketchikan man charged with assault on vessel

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Ketchikan
Type: Assault investigation

On June 15 at approximately 11:59 p.m., the Alaska State Troopers received a report of an assault on the fishing vessel Silver Surfer. The caller did not know the vessel's exact location, but troopers were able to identify a probable location. On June 16, the Alaska Wildlife Troopers vessel P/V Loyalty based out of Ketchikan responded to the probable location and located the F/V Silver Surfer in the waters near Meyers Chuck. Troopers determined that 45-year-old Ketchikan resident David Vest had assaulted another individual on the boat multiple times. He was escorted back to Ketchikan and arrested without incident on assault charges.

Fishy activity reported along Russian boundary

The U.S. Coast Guard included the following in its enforcement report to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, which is meeting this week in Sitka.

U.S./Russian Maritime Boundary Line (MBL) Enforcement

Foreign F/V activity along the MBL increased dramatically in May. In April, there was less than one vessel per day along the MBL, increasing to an average of 15 vessels per day at the end of May. There have been numerous detections of Russian longline fishing vessels briefly crossing into the U.S. EEZ, but no clear evidence that they were fishing in U.S. waters. There is strong evidence that one Russian trawl vessel repeatedly entered the U.S. EEZ. As a result, the Coast Guard increased surface and air presence along the MBL to deter future incursions. Additionally, the Coast Guard communicated these incursions to the Russian Border Guard for further action.

NMFS discloses costly enforcement actions

A federal enforcement report submitted to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council details several interesting cases, including these:

• F/V Alaskan Lady — In an initial decision issued March 7, 2022, Administrative Law Judge Susan Biro found crewman Eliman S. Bah liable, and imposed a civil penalty of $20,000, for sexually harassing an observer in violation of the Magnuson‐Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson‐Stevens Act). Judge Biro found that Bah harassed the observer both by conduct that had sexual connotations, as well as by otherwise creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. The judge's decision followed a two‐day hearing that occurred Sept. 1-2, 2021.

• F/V Magnus Martens — Owner Magnus A. Martens LLC and operator Jeb Phillips were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson‐Stevens Act with operating a vessel in the Bering Sea Pacific cod pot fishery without carrying an operable NMFS‐approved vessel monitoring system (VMS) and without complying with VMS requirements. A $36,000 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

• F/V Cape Kiwanda — Owner B&N Fisheries Co. and operators Ronald Weyburn Naughton and Cory Dehning were charged jointly and severally under Magnuson‐Stevens Act with exceeding the Rockfish Program maximum retainable amount (MRA) for pollock in the Gulf of Alaska. In Count 1, a $1,099.58 penalty was assessed against B&N Fisheries Co. and operator Ronald Weyburn Naughton for exceeding the MRA by 15,815 pounds (a 2,869 percent overage), worth $1,099.58. In Count 2, a $6,502.86 penalty was assessed against B&N Fisheries Co. and operator Cory Dehning for exceeding the MRA by 43,746 pounds (a 729.1 percent overage), worth $3,502.86. A $7,602.44 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $6,842.20.

• F/V Silver Lady — Vessel co-owners Hammer & Son LLC and Lonnie R. Chestnut and operator/IFQ permit holder William R. Hammer Jr. were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson‐Stevens Act with unlawfully discarding at least 990 sablefish. A $14,000 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $12,600.

Man sentenced in case involving Alaska geoducks

Details in this press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle.

Sitka fisherman cited over lingcod bycatch

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka

Type: Bycatch

On 5/4/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited Caven Pfeiffer, 44, of Sitka, for taking more than the allowed lingcod bycatch during a commercial halibut fishing trip on 5/1/22. The proceeds from the sale of 945 pounds of lingcod were seized.

Sitka herring seiner cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 3/30/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Mitchell Eide, 56, of Petersburg, after observing his vessel, the F/V Rose Lee, with commercial seine gear deployed after the 5 p.m. closure of the herring fishery. Eide was cited for commercial herring fishing in a closed period.

Pelican troller nets $12,000 fine

Details in this press release from the Alaska State Troopers.

Sitka fisherman fined, forfeits $8K in sablefish

More details in this press release from the Alaska State Troopers.

Sitka fisherman cited over lingcod bycatch

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Unlawful bycatch
On 3/3/22 Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited Fabian Grutter, 47, of Sitka, for taking more than 20 percent bycatch of lingcod in the commercial halibut fishery in March 2021. Fishing occurred in the Central Southeast Outside area.

Sitka seiner fined, has permit suspended

Details in this press release from the Alaska State Troopers.