Weekly Highlights - January 2, 2018

Alaska Division

• Enforcement officers and special agents conducted numerous dockside inspections. No violations were noted. 

Northeast Division

• Special agents and enforcement officer coordinated with the Massachusetts Environmental Police (MEP) to alert them of a shipment of haddock which was destined for Massachusetts which appeared to be in violation of size restrictions. MEP was able to intercept and inspect the shipment and detected 334 pounds of the haddock were undersized. MEP donated the undersized haddock to a local shelter.
• Richard "Bubba" Indorato, a Massachusetts based Bluefin tuna buyer was sentenced to one-year probation for his involvement with the illegal harvest, transfer, and sale of approximately 20 Bluefin tuna. Indorato pleaded guilty to a one-count of information charging him with violating the Lacey Act (trafficking) of Bluefin tuna. In 2017, Indorato cooperated with the prosecution and testified during a jury trial in Boston in regards to his involvement in the conspiracy.

Pacific Islands Division

• Enforcement officers and special agents conducted numerous dockside inspections. No violations were noted. 

Southeast Division

• An enforcement officer conducted a red snapper patrol with FWC from Tarpon Springs South to Sarasota, FL. During the patrol, a federally permitted reef fish vessel operator was found in possession of reef fish that were not in whole condition. The case was referred to FWC.

West Coast Division

• Enforcement officers and special agents conducted numerous dockside inspections. No violations were noted.