Silver Bay settles enforcement action for $18,428

This federal report to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council includes this enforcement action, among others:

Plant operator Silver Bay Seafoods LLC was charged under the Magnuson‐Stevens Act for exceeding the applicable Rockfish Program processing cap for Pacific cod by 24,849 pounds, a 25.9 percent overage. A $20,475.58 amended notice of violation and assessment was issued. The case settled for $18,428.

Sitka processor cited for 'negligently feeding' bear

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Feeding game
On 10/22/21 Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited Issam Samman, 40, of Sitka, for negligently feeding a brown bear. The bear had repeatedly accessed commercial fish at his fisheries business in the 4600 block of Halibut Point Road.

Troopers arrest geoduck harvester at Ketchikan

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Ketchikan
Type: Warrant arrest

The Alaska Wildlife Troopers arrested Tremaine Lawrence, 34, of Washington state, on an outstanding bench warrant. Lawrence originally was charged with taking an overlimit of commercial geoducks and knowingly recording false information on a fish ticket.

Pelican troller charged with multiple offenses

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Pelican
Type: Fish tickets, intent to operate
On 9/28/21 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Sitka Post, charged James Steven Daniels, 67, of Pelican, with three counts of failure to submit intent to operate and 10 counts of failure to complete fish tickets. The charges stem from an investigation which showed Daniels operated a commercial troll vessel, the F/V Pelican, on commercial fishing trips associated with Highliner Lodge out of Pelican from 2017 to 2020 and sold fish to clients directly without a fisheries business license and without completing any fish tickets. Daniels was subsequently charged with seven additional violations in 2021 for failing to imprint information on fish tickets as required and reporting sold fish as "personal use." Arraignment set in Sitka District Court.

Kelly Tshibaka cited over lack of crew license

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kenai Peninsula
Type: Commercial crewmember license

In July, the Alaska Wildlife Troopers opened an investigation after a social media video showed commercial fishing activity on the Kenai Peninsula. After a thorough investigation and in consultation with the Alaska Department of Law’s Office of Special Prosecutions, the Alaska Wildlife Troopers have cited 42-year-old Anchorage resident Kelly Tshibaka for commercial fishing without a commercial fishing crew license. The citation amount is $270, with an optional appearance in Homer District Court.

Seiners cited, salmon seized at Sitka

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Commercial seine closed period

On 9/2/21 Robert Thorstenson, 57, of Juneau, captain of the F/V Vigilant, and Jason Moilanen, 48, of Petersburg, permit holder aboard the vessel, were found to be fishing in waters closed to commercial seining during a seine opening in Silver Bay near Sitka. Both men were issued a summons to appear on 9/21/21 in the Sitka court for commercial seining in a closed period. Wildlife troopers seized 5,170 pounds of salmon valued at $4,372.

Man arrested at Ketchikan on drug, gun charges

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Ketchikan
Type: Drug search
On 8/21/21 at approximately 1147 hours, a boarding team with the U.S. Coast Guard in Ketchikan contacted AST to request that a Troopers K-9 team respond to the Thomas Basin harbor in Ketchikan for a canine sniff of the commercial fishing vessel Brown Sugar, which was being operated by the owner and sole occupant James Vandebunte, 58, of Wrangell. The USCG boarding team had discovered illegal drug paraphernalia and brought the vessel to the harbor for further investigation. AST obtained a search warrant prior to searching the vessel. Among other drug items seized were 180 net grams of suspected methamphetamine, multiple zip-top plastic baggies, digital scales, and a loaded .357-caliber pistol. Vandebunte (a convicted felon) was arrested for misconduct involving a controlled substance and misconduct involving weapons. Investigation continues.