Weekly Highlights - December 6, 2019

Northeast

• A Special Agent issued a $4,334.99 Summary Settlement to a Stonington, CT based, Limited Access scallop captain for exceeding the 18,000 pound closed area possession limit. CT ENCON officers monitored the offload and detected the 242 lb overage. 
• Four OLE personnel conducted a site visit to the New Fulton Fish market. SIMP related information was shared with industry personnel and import related documents were reviewed.

Southeast

• A Savannah, GA Enforcement Officer investigated a shipment of grouper fingers making entry into the Port of Savannah.  No violations were discovered.

• A Galveston,TX Enforcement Officer reviewed a case package in which fishermen aboard a recreational fishing vessel discarded fish parts upon approach of law enforcement, used of reef fish as bait, and possessed red snapper during a closed season. The EO issued a $1550 Summary Settlement Offer.

West Coast

• A Special Agent issued a $4,000 summary settlement to the owner of a U.S. purse seine vessel, who failed to use the sea turtle handling, release, and resuscitation procedures ($2,000) and failed to retain two MT skipjack tuna caught during a fishing set ($2,000). 

• Two commercial fishing vessels participating in the Pacific whiting fishery were investigated for illegal discards of Pacific whiting. Each vessel was offered, and accepted a summary settlement for one count each of discarding Pacific whiting, in violation of the maximum retention requirements specified in their Exempted Fishing Permit. Summary settlement amounts were $2,000 and $3,000, respectively.

Alaska

• A Special Agent assisted a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service agent who was investigating vandalism of World War II artifacts on a remote Aleutian Island. Several fishing vessels were identified in the area during the time frame.

Pacific Islands

• A Special Agent completed an investigation involving the U.S. flagged purse seine fishing vessel that is alleged to have violated WCPFC Conservation Fishing Measures regarding Silky Sharks.  Additional interviews of material witnesses revealed that the vessel conducted approximately 17 sets for a combined catch of over 200 sharks in which the crew took no action or reasonable steps for their safe release.