Vessel owner-operator hit with nearly $20K penalty

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

• F/V Sentinel — Owner-operator Arseny I. Polushkin was charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with fishing for groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska without a federal fisheries permit, failing to log a groundfish fishing trip in the Observer Deploy and Declare System, and interfering with, obstructing and delaying an authorized officer in conducting an investigation, search and seizure. Proceeds of $8,998.30 were previously judicially forfeited. A $19,750 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

Gulf pollock, cod violations draw $36,441 penalty

NOAA's Office of General Counsel reports the following case charged in April:

• F/V Alaskan Lady — Owner Alaskan Lady LLC and operator Keith M. Williams were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with directed fishing in pollock and Pacific cod no fishing zones and exceeding the maximum retainable amounts of pollock and Pacific cod in the Gulf of Alaska. A $36,441 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.