Weekly Highlights - July 12, 2019

Southeast

• Enforcement Officers transported NOAA OLE patrol vessel F3401 to Key Largo, FL for use in an upcoming operation.  While there they met with National Marine Sanctuary personnel for an overview who advised of multiple reports of vessels fishing inside the Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPA) even in broad daylight.  An area familiarization patrol onboard F3401 was conducted of the SPAs with a local FWC Officer during which a recreational vessel was located with multiple individuals fishing inside The Elbows SPA.
• Due to high rates of live small green turtles coming ashore that may be related to oceanographic conditions and biological factors, a Special Agent in Corpus Christi, TX completed multi-day patrol of the Packery Channel area including the north and south jetty, Whitecap beach, and the Bob Hall Pier area targeting public interactions with sea turtles.  The SA conducted outreach and assistance with recreational fisherman on entanglement procedures with sea turtles and their fishing gear.

West Coast

• An Enforcement Officer working the Area 2A commercial halibut fishery responded to a report from the Oregon State Police regarding a commercial vessel landing undersized Pacific halibut.  The officer responded to the processing plant and confirmed the report. The operator of the vessel was contacted and offered a summary settlement in the amount of $400.00. The subject abandoned the halibut and advised he would pay the summary settlement offer.  

Pacific Islands

• An Enforcement Officer conducted an Endangered Species Act (ESA) patrol on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii focusing on human interaction with Hawaiian Monk Seals and Green Sea Turtles that frequent the area.  During the patrol, the EO located two seals in a remote area called “Tables Beach,” west of Camp Erdman.  The officer monitored the resting seals and spoke to a seal enthusiast taking photos in the area.  The EO also conducted outreach and education at Laniakea Beach on the North Shore regarding a large amount of Green Sea Turtles resting on the beach.  No violations were observed. 

Alaska

• An Enforcement Officer conducted a patrol of a tractor assisted boat launch and boarded 22 sport charter and 23 recreational vessels. Six charter vessels were found to have violations. One written warning was issued to a Charter Captain for not turning in log book pages and five Captains were issued compliance assistance for not having anglers record retained halibut on their fishing licenses.