Groundfish case settles for $47,183

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

• F/V America's Finest and F/V U.S. Intrepid — Owner Fishermen's Finest Inc. et al. were charged under the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 with exceeding mothership processing caps of flathead sole, yellowfin sole and Alaska plaice. A $48,183 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued, and the case settled for $47,183.

Catcher-processor owner, operator charged

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

• C/P Cape Horn — Owner Cape Horn Vessel LLC and operator Peter Pack were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with fishing in a closed area. A $26,801 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

Processor OBI settles case for $10,800

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

• Shoreside processor OBI Seafoods LLC and plant manager James Nelson Turner were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with exceeding the applicable rockfish program processing cap for sablefish by 4,987 pounds, a 1.4 percent overage. A $12,000 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued, and the case settled for $10,800.

Pollock overage charged

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

• F/V Ocean Invictus — Vessel owners Ocean Bay Inc. and Kilokak Inc., permit holder Ocean Invictus LLC, and operator Robert E. Graham were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act for exceeding the 300,000-pound daily limit on the harvest of pollock. A $13,159 NOVA was issued.

Feds charge observer violations

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

• C/P Cape Horn — Operator Ata Ioapo was charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with sexually harassing a female observer by grabbing her buttocks without consent. A $24,000 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

• F/V Alaskan Star — Owners Alaskan Star Fisheries LLC, Sunrunner Alaska Corp., and Moriah Fishing Inc., operator Abraham Brendan Sullivan, and vessel manager James Aaron Stevens were charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with failing to log four fishing trips in the Observer Deploy and Declare System. A $12,000 NOVA was issued.

Sitka hand troller cited

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka

Type: Commercial troll closed period

On 8/12/23 Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited Braden Shoemaker, 32, of Sitka, for commercial hand trolling within 1 nautical mile of Kruzof Island near Sitka Point, in an area not open to commercial trolling. Troopers observed and documented the violation on 7/30/23.

Troller cited, salmon seized at Sitka

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Possess king, coho during closed period
On 8/11/23 Alaska Wildlife Troopers investigated a report of coho salmon being delivered from a troll vessel which had retained the fish during a closed period. Investigation revealed Jeffrey Odam, 54, of Oregon, had retained five coho salmon and one king salmon while participating in the commercial chum salmon fishery. Retention of king and coho salmon was closed by emergency order when the fish were retained. The fish were seized and Odam was issued a summons to appear in Sitka District Court.