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.