Factory trawler charged with pollock violation

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

• C/P North Star — Owner North Star Vessel LLC and operator Joshua Buchan were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with exceeding the maximum retainable amount of pollock. A $23,408 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

Observer infractions charged

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

• F/V Carlynn — Owner Carlynn Inc. and owner-operator Robert Becker were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with failing to maintain safe conditions for the protection of observers, failing to provide adequate accommodations for observers, and intimidating and harassing observers. A $28,500 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

Feds detail several Alaska enforcement cases

NOAA's Office of General Counsel reports the following cases charged in February:

• F/T U.S. Intrepid — Owner U.S. Fishing LLC and operator Erin Blaine Moore were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with failing to comply with vessel monitoring system requirements and for failing to submit two product transfer reports as required. A $38,000 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

• F/V Alaska Victory — Owner Alaska Victory Inc. and operator David D. Bishop were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with failing to comply with vessel monitoring system requirements. A $36,000 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $32,400.

• F/V Arica — Owner Arica Vessel LLC and operator John C. Nelson were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with exceeding the maximum retainable amount of pollock on one fishing trip and failing to timely submit one product transfer report. A $20,818 NOVA was issued.

• F/V Lady Lee Dawn — Owner-operator Alvin J. Newman Jr. was charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with failing to comply with vessel monitoring system requirements. A $10,000 NOVA was issued.

• F/V Pacific Star — Owner Pacstar Inc. and operator John P. McCarthy were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with exceeding the maximum retainable amount of bycatch on one trip in 2023. A $4,836 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $4,361.

• F/V Dominator — Owner Trident Seafoods and operator Jamie Potter were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with exceeding the maximum retainable amount of squid and sablefish. A $4,000 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $3,600.

Crabber cited over female and undersized Tanners

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Bering Sea

Type: Retain female and undersized crab

On 2/3/25 Jakob V. Anderson, 44, from Lake Stevens, Wash., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for retaining female and undersized Tanner crab in the Bering Sea. Arraignment set for 4/29/25 in Unalaska District Court.

Man charged at Dutch Harbor with crab overages

Details in this press release from the Alaska State Troopers.

Feds hit O'Hara with $191,971 in penalties

NOAA's Office of General Counsel reports the following cases charged in February:

• C/P Defender — Owner O'Hara Corp. and operator Michael Burgett were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with directed fishing in an Atka mackerel no fishing zone. A $102,137 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

• C/P Defender — Owner O'Hara Corp. and operator Dean Slater were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with directed fishing in an Atka mackerel no fishing zone. An $89,834 NOVA was issued.

$8,250 penalty assessed in sablefish discards case

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

• F/V Mirage — Owner JJ Mirage LLC and operator Jeffrey Turner were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with illegally discarding IFQ sablefish caught with fixed gear when any IFQ permit holder aboard held unused sablefish IFQ and with failing to record discard information in their vessel's Daily Fishing Logbook. An $8,250 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.