Feds detail three enforcement cases

NOAA's Office of General Counsel reports these cases charged in October:

• F/V U.S. Intrepid — Crewman Zedrick Moli (aka Zedrick Allen) was charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with harassing and sexually harassing a female fisheries observer. An $18,000 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

• F/V Foreigner — Owner Anastasia Basargin and operator Arseny Reutov were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with operating a vessel without an operable VMS (vessel monitoring system). A $7,500 NOVA was issued.

• F/V Ocean Invictus — Owners Ocean Bay Inc. and Kilokak Inc. and operator Robert Graham were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with failing to retain pollock, an IR/IU (improved retention/improved utilization) species, up to the maximum retainable amount. A $5,750 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $5,175.

Violations reported at Canadian border

NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement, in a report to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, relates the following:

In June, enforcement officers conducted multiple vessel patrols along the Canadian border in Southeast Alaska. The patrols concentrated on foreign and domestic recreational and commercial fishing vessels adjacent to and within disputed zones. Twenty vessels were boarded throughout the week, and 10 violations were discovered. Multiple violations were found on foreign and domestic vessels, including illegal harvest in U.S. waters.

Halibut discards case settles for $39,600

NOAA's Office of General Counsel reports the following case resolution:

• F/V Intrepid — Owner F/V Intrepid LLC and operator Alexey P. Fefelov were charged jointly and severally under the Northern Pacific Halibut Act with failing to return halibut discards to the sea with a minimum of injury. A $49,500 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued, and the case settled for $39,600.

Troopers cite several Cook Inlet fishermen

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/17/24 Soldotna-based Aaska Wildlife Troopers observed the fishing vessel Realist commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in an area that was closed to commercial fishing. The Realist was 3.3 miles outside of legal fishing waters. Further investigation revealed that the permit holder, Kyle Hock, 35, of Homer, falsely stated he caught fish in a legal statistical area. Hock was charged with infractions including commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/17/24 Soldotna-based Alaska Wildlife Troopers observed the fishing vessel Blue Back commercial fishing in a closed area. The Blue Back was 0.7 miles outside of legal fishing waters. The permit holder, Eric Ranguette, 47, of Soldotna, was issued a citation for commercial fishing during a closed period. On 8/28/24 Ranguette pled no contest in Homer District Court. Ranguette was fined $3,000 with $1,500 suspended and ordered to pay $1,856 in restitution for the illegally caught fish.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/17/24 Soldotna-based Alaska Wildlife Troopers observed the fishing vessel Little Dolphin commercial fishing in a closed area. The Little Dolphin was 0.7 miles outside of legal fishing waters. The permit holder, Nikolai Yakunin, 69, of Homer, was cited for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/10/24 Soldotna-based Alaska Wildlife Troopers observed the fishing vessel Skybird commercial fishing in an area closed to commercial fishing. The Skybird was 0.35 miles outside of legal fishing waters. The permit holder, Ulian Kuzmin, 28, of Homer, was cited for commercial fishing during a closed period.

Sitka man charged with multiple violations

Details in this Alaska State Troopers press release.

Kodiak fisherman arrested on warrant

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kodiak

Type: Warrant arrest

On 10/5/24 Alaska Wildlife Troopers arrested Cory Dehning, 37, of Kodiak, for an arrest warrant for failure to appear for the original charge of commercial fishing in closed waters. Dehning was remanded to the Kodiak Jail with bail set at $100.

Cook Inlet EEZ firearm incident investigated

The U.S. Coast Guard reports the following to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, which is meeting this week in Anchorage.

The Coast Guard conducted coordinated surface and air patrols with NOAA OLE in the first opener of the Cook Inlet EEZ Salmon Fishery. The Coast Guard completed 17 at-sea boardings and 05 hours of C-130 patrol. Notably, the aircrew observed one instance of a firearm being pointed in the direction of a deployed net and vectored a cutter with embarked NOAA OLE agents to the vessel for investigation.

NOAA Office of Law Enforcement director named

Here's the press release.

Crabber cited for lack of catcher-seller permit

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kodiak

Type: Sell without permit

On 9/10/24 Kelly Broyles, 58, from Foresthill, Calif., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for selling Dungeness crab without a catcher-seller permit in Kodiak.

Sitka man charged with exceeding 12-king limit

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka

Type: King salmon overlimit

On 9/5/24 Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited Gary McMaster, 74, of Sitka, after he landed 14 king salmon at a local processor when a total of 12 were allowed for Sept. 1-10, during the commercial troll limited harvest season for king salmon. Arraignment was set in Sitka District Court. Two king salmon were donated to a local charity.

Two Sitka men charged in sablefish case

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka

Type: Sablefish violations

On 9/1/24 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Vincent Peters, 38, of Sitka, transporting processed sablefish fillets up the public dock. Investigation revealed the fillets came from a nearby commercial sablefish vessel. The fish had been harvested under personal use regulations in Chatham Strait on 8/31/24. As a result of the investigation, vessel owner-operator Patrick Crenna, 44, of Sitka, was cited for failing to have a personal use/subsistence sablefish permit, reporting inaccurate information on a permit once obtained, and using an overlimit of pot gear to harvest sablefish. Total bail set at $440 with an arraignment set in Sitka District Court for the overlimit gear charge. Peters was cited for no personal use/subsistence sablefish permit, and overlimit pot gear. Bail set at $220 with an arraignment for the overlimit pot gear charge.

Peter Pan warned over rockfish exceedance

NOAA's Office of General Counsel reports this case charged in July:

• Shoreside processor owner Peter Pan Seafood-King Cove LLC and managers Colby B. Boulton, Trevor Milich and Ryan Piliae were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with exceeding the maximum commerce allowance amount for rockfish. A written warning was issued.

Trident plant cited over garbage attracting bears

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Cordova

Type: Wildlife violation

On 8/29/24 Alaska Wildlife Troopers issued a citation to Trident Seafoods (North) in Cordova for feeding game — black bears. Trident Seafoods (North) continued to have unsecured garbage in a manner that attracted sow with cubs on multiple occasions. Bail was set for $320 into Cordova District Court.

Sitka fisherman cited over lingcod bycatch

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka

Type: Bycatch

On 8/25/24 Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited Calvin Robinson, 70, of Sitka, for unlawfully taking bycatch lingcod in the commercial IFQ halibut fishery inside the Northern Southeast Outside area during a closed period, 8/3/24.

Observer harassment case ends with $4K penalty

NOAA's Office of General Counsel reports the following case resolution:

• C/P Arica — Male assistant cook Jordan St. Martin-Reyes was charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with harassing and sexually harassing two female observers onboard a vessel. A $19,000 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued, and the case settled for $4,000.

Several more Bristol Bay fishermen cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Dillingham

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/21/24 Clara Martin, 62, from Togiak, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in Togiak Bay.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Fish tickets

On 7/17/24 Johanna Bouker, 27, from Dillingham, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for providing false information on fish tickets to processor in Ekuk Beach.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/7/24 Wassillie Andrews, 73, from New Stuyahok, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Nushagak District.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Failure to register

On 6/27/24 Adrian Barhan, 33, from St. Paul, Minn., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for failing to register before taking commercial salmon in Nushagak Bay.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Failure to register

On 6/27/24 Taylor Barhan, 30, from Maplewood, Minn., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for failing to register before taking commercial salmon in Nushagak Bay.

Nets, proceeds seized in Cook Inlet dipnet case

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kenai

Type: Commercial dipnetting violation

On 7/18/24 Alaska Wildlife Troopers received a complaint of commercial dipnetters using illegal gear on the North Kenai Beach. Due to low king salmon abundance, commercial set gillnet fishing has been closed in the Kenai, Kasilof and East Forelands sections of Upper Cook Inlet. Commercial set gillnet permit holders have been allowed to use dipnets to commercial fish at their setnet sites. AWT responded and contacted permit holders Ted Crookston, 67, and Alan Crookston, 44, both of Utah. Investigation determined they were fishing with gear that met the legal definition of a set gillnet and not a dipnet. AWT seized the nets and proceeds from the illegally caught fish. Charges are pending in Kenai District Court.

Wrangell man charged with wasting salmon

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Ketchikan

Type: Waste of commercial salmon

On 8/1/24 Brandon Kenfield, 29, of Wrangell, was issued a citation by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Wrangell Post, for wasting commercial-caught salmon. Kenfield has a mandatory court date set for 9/10/24 in the Ketchikan courthouse.

Three more Bristol Bay fishermen cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Egegik

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/22/24 Zenon A. Martushev, 31, from Homer, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters on the Egegik northern boundary line.

Location: Egegik

Type: Grounding prohibited

On 7/8/24 Thomas C. Aliotti, 55, from Bellingham, Wash., and Daniel J. Harmon, 29, from Bainbridge Island, Wash., were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for grounding prohibited in Egegik.

Sablefish harvester cited at Sitka

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka

Type: Landing permit violation

On 7/23/24 Alaska Wildlife Troopers responded to a report of a vessel offloading IFQ pot sablefish without the proper state of Alaska landing permit. Investigation revealed John Curry, 80, of Washington state, had landed sablefish without the proper CFEC permit. Curry was cited with arraignment set in Sitka District Court.

Another round of citations issued in Bristol Bay

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kvichak section

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/12/24 Evan D. Brill-Kowles, 34, and Spencer C. Burnfield, 39, both from Homer, were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters in the Kvichak section.

Location: Egegik

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/10/24 Jacob M. Gimpel, 25, from Steamboat Springs, Colo., and Malik N. Keval, 30, from La Conner, Wash., were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters in Egegik.

Location: Ugashik Bay

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/8/24 Aristotelis Georgakopoulos, 35, from Bellingham, Wash., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters in Ugashik Bay.

Location: Ugashik Bay

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/8/24 John S. Girvan, 74, from San Antonio, Texas, and Ryan D. Guiggey, 46, from Salt Lake City, Utah, were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters in Ugashik Bay.

Location: Ugashik District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/7/24 Daniel L. Frazer, 38, from Choteau, Mont., and Zachary D. Lindor, 34, from Cle Elum, Wash., were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Ugashik District.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Failure to report lost net

On 7/6/24 Roscoe Schroeder, 51, from Anchorage, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for failing to report lost net and commercial fishing with drift gillnet within 300 feet of set gillnets in the Nushagak District.

Location: Ugashik District

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 6/27/24 Warren F. Gibbons, 69, and Evan C. Villalobos, 29, both from Bellingham, Wash., were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters on the north line, Ugashik District.

A few more Bristol Bay fishermen cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Naknek-Kvichak District

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/9/24 Ethan O. Wood, 23, from Riverton, Utah, and Jason R. Wood, 52, from American Fork, Utah, were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters in the Naknek-Kvichak District, south line.

Location: Egegik

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/11/24 Joseph A. Resetarits, 29, from Homer, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters in Egegik on 7/30/23.

Fisherman charged at Sitka with lingcod infraction

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka

Type: Lingcod bycatch

On 7/17/24 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Jeffrey Thomas, 44, of Washington state, regarding retention of lingcod in the commercial halibut fishery. Investigation revealed Thomas had unlawfully retained and sold lingcod after fishing in the Northern Southeast Outside section when lingcod bycatch retention was closed by emergency order. Arraignment set in Sitka District Court.

More Bristol Bay fishermen cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Naknek section

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/13/24 Evsevy F. Reutov, 44, from Homer, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Naknek section.

Location: Egegik

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/12/24 Elizabeth J. Rose, 45, from Mantua, Utah, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in Egegik.

Location: Kvichak section

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/12/24 Peter Anthony Aliotti, 39, from Monterey, Calif., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Kvichak section.

Location: Egegik

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/10/24 Aaron J. Brockhoff, 51, from Montesano, Wash., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in Egegik.

Location: Kvichak Bay

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/10/24 Savaty G. Basargin, 21, from Sterling, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters in Kvichak Bay.

Location: Naknek-Kvichak District

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/9/24 Jason W. Schultz, 53, from Washougal, Wash., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters in the Naknek-Kvichak District.

Location: Naknek-Kvichak District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/3/24 Colby David Root, 62, from Oakwood, Colo., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Naknek section of the Naknek-Kvichak District.

Bristol Bay fishermen cited on variety of charges

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kvichak Bay

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/9/24 Alan S. Miller, 51, from Eagle River, and Jacob Robertson, 51, from Wasilla, were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters in the Kvichak section of Kvichak Bay.

Location: Kvichak section

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/9/24 Arthur G. Peterson, 50, from Naknek, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters in the Kvichak section, south line.

Location: Kvichak District

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/9/24 Thomas J. Harman, 57, from Anchorage, and Thomas Joseph Harman Jr., 22, from Juneau, were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters in the Kvichak District.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Overlength net

On 7/8/24 Raymond Thorson, 78, from Dillingham, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing with an overlength gillnet, with improper buoy markings, in the Nushagak District.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Failure to report lost net

On 7/6/24 Toon Pham, 20, from Dillingham, and Gustavis Gumlickpuk, 37, from New Stuyahok, were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for failing to report a lost net in Nushagak.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Failure to report lost net

On 7/4/24 Jonathon Wicker, 39, of Choteau, Mont., and Nicholas Beutler, 40, of Deming, Wash., were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for failing to report a lost net in Nushagak.

$49,500 penalty issued in halibut discards case

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

• F/V Intrepid — Owner F/V Intrepid LLC and operator Alexey P. Fefelov were charged jointly and severally under the Northern Pacific Halibut Act with failing to return halibut discards to the sea with a minimum of injury. A $49,500 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

Troller delivered undersized king, troopers say

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka

Type: Undersized king salmon

On 7/9/24 Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited Robert Woodard, 65, of Washington state, for retaining and landing an undersized commercial troll-caught king salmon to a local processor.

Multiple fishermen cited in Bristol Bay

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Egegik District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/8/24 Kelly P. Broyles, 57, from Soldotna, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Egegik District.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/7/24 Roscoe Schroeder, 51, from Anchorage, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in Nushagak.

Location: Kvichak Bay

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/7/24 William Fritz Menish, 48, from Enumclaw, Wash., and Lucas B. Chisausky, 30, from Keaau, Hawaii, were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Kvichak section in Kvichak Bay.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Setnet violations

On 7/4/24 Edmond Kroener, 44, from Chugiak, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for multiple commercial setnet fishing violations in the Igushik River.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/3/24 Dimitry Basargin, 19, from Homer, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in Nushagak.

Location: Egegik District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/2/24 Mark R. Peterson, 57, from Kirkland, Wash., and Jeffery D. Leslie, 41, from Marysville, Wash., were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Egegik District.

Bristol Bay fisherman cited for overlength net

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Dillingham

Type: Overlength net

On 7/7/24 Gaylord Clark, 66, from Stevenson, Md., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing with an overlength drift gillnet in Nushagak Bay.

Several more Bristol Bay fishermen cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kvichak section

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/3/24 Matthew A. Kobel, 37, from Naknek, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Kvichak section.

Location: Naknek

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/3/24 Michael S. Wilson, 65, from Ellensburg, Wash., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Naknek-Kvichak District.

Location: Naknek

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/3/24 Patrick J. Hogan, 66, from Kodiak, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters in the Naknek-Kvichak District.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/1/24 John Montecucco, 60, from Vashon, Wash., and Helen Roe, 31, from Santa Rosa, Calif., were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Nushagak District.

Location: Naknek

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/1/24 Crosby G. Leveen, 44, from Cordova, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Naknek-Kvichak District.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 6/30/24 Dennis Wilson, 29, from Dillingham, and Justin Pleier, 38, from Palmer, were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Nushagak District.

Another bevy of fishermen cited in Bristol Bay

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Dillingham

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/3/24 Kurt Norman, 58, from Corvallis, Mont., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters in Nushagak.

Location: Naknek

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/1/24 Ryan Littleton, 49, from Petersburg, and Connor McCollum, 25, from Cashmere, Wash., were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters south of the Naknek section south line.

Location: Kvichak section

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 6/30/24 Dakota Tennant, 31, from Black River Falls, Wisc., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Kvichak section.

Location: Kvichak section

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 6/30/24 John C. Schandelmeier, 72, from Delta Junction, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Kvichak section.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 6/27/24 Nicholas Snyder, 58, from Rexburg, Idaho, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in Nushagak.

Location: Egegik District

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 6/21/24 James Pollack, 37, and David Weisser, 22, both from Homer, were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters in the Egegik District.

More Bristol Bay fishermen cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Dillingham

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/2/24 Kurt Baumgart, 64, from Ferndale, Wash., and Hunter Thompson, 24, from Anchorage, were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters in Nushagak.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/1/24 Katrina Libby, 38, from Anchorage, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in Ekuk Bluffs.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 6/29/24 Jeffrey Ludwig, 34, from Arlington, Wash., and Matthew Tallman, 32, from Ramona, Calif., were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 6/28/24 Eric Hill, 30, and William Hill, 55, from Naknek, were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters in Nushagak.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 6/28/24 Justin Martin, 45, from Vista, Calif., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters in Nushagak Bay.

Troopers cite several Bristol Bay fishermen

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Egegik District

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 7/1/24 Cory Dehning, 37, from Kodiak, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in closed waters in the Egegik District.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Commercial fishing violation

On 7/1/24 Dennis Wilson, 29, from Dillingham, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Nushagak District.

Location: Egegik District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/1/24 Sassa J. Copps-Wilson, 17, and George V. Wilson Jr., 53, both from Naknek, were cited for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Egegik District.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Commercial fishing violation

On 6/30/24 Jeffrey Shostad, 66, from Washington state, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period and failing to mark his commercial drift gear in the Nushagak District.

Location: Dillingham

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 6/29/24 Shane Handy, 49, from Dillingham, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for fishing during a closed period in the Nushagak District.

Location: Egegik District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 6/23/24 Jaymi Bethea, 31, from Fairplay, Colo., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Egegik District.

PWS fishermen cited over anchored net

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Whitter

Type: Anchored driftnet

On 06/27/24 James Andrews, 30, of Seward, was issued a citation for operating a commercial salmon drift gillnet that was otherwise affixed to rocks in Falls Bay, Eshamy District, western Prince William Sound.

Four Prince William Sound fishermen cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Valdez

Type: Illegal driftnet operations

On 6/20/24 Kiril Reutov, 33, of Wasilla, was issued a citation for operating a commercial salmon drift gillnet within 60 fathoms of a commercial setnet in Falls Bay, Eshamy District, western Prince William Sound.

Location: Valdez

Type: Illegal driftnet operations

On 6/20/24 James Andrews, 30, of Seward, was issued a citation for operating a commercial salmon drift gillnet within 60 fathoms of a commercial setnet in Falls Bay, Eshamy District, western Prince William Sound.

Location: Valdez

Type: Illegal driftnet operations

On 6/24/24 Richard Eckley, 22, of Cordova, was cited for operating a commercial salmon drift gillnet within 60 fathoms of a commercial setnet in Falls Bay, Eshamy District, western Prince William Sound.

Location: Valdez

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 6/24/24 Kenneth Cary, 58, of Cordova, was issued a citation for commercial fishing within 500 yards of a salmon stream, which is closed waters, near Eshamy Bay, western Prince William Sound.

Man charged with harassment in Unalakleet

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Unalakleet

Type: Harassment

On 6/18/24 Alaska State Troopers received a report from a 29-year-old woman reporting she was touched inappropriately by Gary S. Lybrand, 71, of Soldotna, while she was working at the fish-processing plant yard in Unalakleet. Investigation revealed Lybrand put his hand down the woman's front pants pocket without consent and then grazed her chest over her clothes with the back of his hand, while commenting how much he liked her coveralls. Troopers filed harassment charges against Lybrand.

Prince William Sound fisherman cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Montague Island

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 6/18/24 James Barber, 35, of Cordova, was cited for commercial fishing in closed waters outside the Port Chalmers Subdistrict near the north end of Montague Island.

Deckhand arrested on assault charges

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Anchor Point

Type: Assault

On 6/22/24 Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Wildlife Troopers responded to a disturbance near Iliamna Bay. Investigation determined deckhand Joseph Kuzmin, 22, had threatened numerous people with a knife aboard a fishing vessel. Kuzmin was arrested and remanded to the Homer jail on seven counts of assault.

Feds detail several enforcement actions

The NOAA Office of General Counsel reports the following Alaska cases charged in May:

• F/V Pacific Star — Owner Pacstar Inc. and operator John P. McCarthy were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act for interfering with the sampling procedure employed by an observer by discarding catch before sampling. A $3,000 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

• F/V Farrar Sea — Owner RLB Vessel LLC and operator James Carl Wilson were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with failing to log four fishing trips in the Observer Deploy and Declare System. A $5,750 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $5,175.

• F/V Marathon — Owner Marathon Fisheries Inc. and operator Martin Stam were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with exceeding the maximum retainable amount of groundfish bycatch on two trips. A $4,105.33 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $3,694.79.

• F/V Saga — Owner Inter-Cooperative Exchange and operator Jakob Anderson were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with making an IFQ crab landing without holding a crab IFQ permit or a crab IFQ hired master permit issued under their name. A written warning was issued.

• F/V Dawn — Owner Dawn Fisheries LLC and operator Matthew Rohde were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with exceeding the maximum retainable amounts of redstripe rockfish and silvergray rockfish in the Gulf of Alaska. A $5,119.68 NOVA was issued.

Trawl case settles for $15,000

The NOAA Office of General Counsel provided the following case update:

• F/V Vanguard — Owner Vanguard Fisheries LLC and operator Per Hesberg were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with fishing with, and having onboard, nonpelagic trawl gear in federal reporting areas open only to pelagic trawl gear; not complying with vessel monitoring system requirements; and inaccurate reporting. A $59,784 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued. The case settled for $15,000 as to the VMS violation; the agency withdrew the remaining violations.

Mixed ruling on appeal for Bristol Bay fisherman

The Alaska Court of Appeals has affirmed a Bristol Bay commercial fisherman's conviction for fishing in closed waters, but has ordered a lower court to reconsider his fines.

Here's the memorandum opinion.

Prince William Sound fisherman cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Port Chalmers Subdistrict

Type: Commercial fish closed waters

On 6/11/24 Thane Miller, 57, from Valdez, was cited for commercial fishing in closed waters outside the Port Chalmers Subdistrict.

Excess cod, rockfish retention draws $10K penalty

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

• F/V Mar Del Norte — Owner North Sea Fisheries LLC and operator Robert W. Harrington were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with exceeding the maximum retainable amount of Pacific cod and rockfish. A $10,690 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

Juneau man charged over lingcod bycatch

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka

Type: Bycatch closed season

On 4/30/24 Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited Richard J. Davis, 65, of Juneau, for retaining lingcod as bycatch in the commercial troll fishery in March. Bycatch in the troll fishery opened 5/16/24.

Feds detail two cases of observer mistreatment

From the NOAA Office of General Counsel:

• C/P Arica — Male assistant cook Jordan St. Martin-Reyes was charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with harassing and sexually harassing two female observers onboard a vessel. A $19,000 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

• C/P North Star — Factory foreman Juvy Bongcawil was charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with harassing a fisheries observer by conduct that had sexual connotations or otherwise creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. An $18,000 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $16,200.

$101,031 settlement reached in trawl case

The NOAA Office of General Counsel reports resolution of the following case:

• F/V Ocean Peace — Owner Ocean Peace Inc. was charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with fishing in the Nearshore Bristol Bay Trawl Area after it had closed. A $111,031 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued, and the case settled for $101,031.

Sablefish harvest overage case resolved

The NOAA Office of General Counsel reports resolution of the following case charged in December:

• F/V Lea — IFQ permit holder and owner-operator Robert J. Bateman and owner Laura S. Coleman were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with possessing, selling and transporting 5,459 pounds of IFQ sablefish harvested in excess of what the IFQ permit onboard authorized, a 417 percent overage. The proceeds ($11,078.57) of the violation were forfeited by abandonment. A $3,000 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued, and the case settled for $2,700.

$59,784 penalty assessed in trawl case

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

• F/V Vanguard — Operator Per Hesberg and owner Vanguard Fisheries LLC were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with fishing with, and having onboard, nonpelagic trawl gear in federal reporting areas open only to pelagic trawl gear; not complying with vessel monitoring system requirements; and inaccurate reporting. A $59,784 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

Three salmon fishermen cited at Sitka

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka

Type: Undersized king salmon

On 2/8/24 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Timothy Robinson, 64, of Sitka, during a commercial salmon offload to a local processing facility. Investigation revealed Robinson had landed one undersized king salmon and had concealed two additional unreported king salmon aboard his vessel. Robinson was cited for retaining undersized salmon and failing to report on a fish ticket.

Location: Sitka

Type: Undersized king salmon

On 2/7/24 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Cale LaDuke, 42, of Sitka, during a commercial salmon offload to a local processing facility. Investigation revealed LaDuke had landed four undersized king salmon. LaDuke was cited for retaining undersized salmon.

Location: Sitka

Type: Undersized king salmon

On 2/7/24 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Ryan Andrews, 45, of Sitka, during a commercial salmon offload to a local processing facility. Investigation revealed Andrews had landed five undersized king salmon. Andrews was cited for retaining undersized salmon.

Federal officials update enforcement cases

From the NOAA Office of General Counsel:

• F/V American Dynasty — Medic Daniel Craig Azcarate was charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with sexually harassing a female fisheries observer. A $36,000 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued, and the case settled for $3,000.

• C/P Cape Horn — Operator Ata Ioapo was charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with sexually harassing a female observer by grabbing her buttocks without consent. A $24,000 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $6,000.

• C/P Cape Horn — Owner Cape Horn Vessel LLC and operator Peter Pack were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with fishing in a closed area. A $26,801 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $26,226.

Troopers update Cook Inlet enforcement cases

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/17/23 Soldotna Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Early Dawn commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District when commercial fishing had closed. Troopers contacted the permit holder, Abraham Porter, 45, of Kenai, and issued him a citation with a mandatory appearance in Homer District Court. Porter pled no contest at arraignment and was given a $3,000 fine with $1,500 suspended.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/17/23 Soldotna Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Cat II commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District when commercial fishing had closed. Troopers contacted the permit holder, Joshua Black, 42, of Palmer, and issued him a citation for a second commercial fishing offense with a mandatory appearance in Homer District Court. Black was given a default judgment at arraignment and a fine of $6,000.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/17/23 Soldotna Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Starshine commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District when commercial fishing had closed. Troopers contacted the permit holder, Donald Bridges, 75, of Soldotna, and issued him a citation with a mandatory appearance in Homer District Court. Bridges pled no contest at arraignment and was given a $3,000 fine with $1,500 suspended.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed area

On 7/18/23 Soldotna Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Cordova commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District in a closed area. Troopers contacted the permit holder, Yakov Reutov, 53, of Sterling, and issued him a citation with a mandatory appearance in Kenai District Court. Reutov pled no contest at arraignment and was given a $3,000 fine with $1,500 suspended.