


Read about this week's enforcement efforts from around the country.
An Enforcement Officer and Special Agent conducted two sea patrols to check compliance with highly migratory species regulations. One violation was detected. A charter vessel was found to be fishing in the Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ) without the proper permit.
While conducting an at-sea patrol in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Enforcement Officers Os apprehended a scallop boat fishing in the EEZ without a federal permit. The vessel captain voluntary abandoned 700 pounds of live scallops and returned them to the sea. He also abandoned the value of 115 pounds of shucked scallop meats.
Special Agents completed a patrol of the US/Canada boarder as follow up to a report of a Canadian troller fishing in U.S waters. Investigation into the troller continues. Boardings of US vessels uncovered additional State and federal violations, including 43.5 pounds of chunked halibut with skin off.
Two Enforcement Officers conducted a patrol utilizing the division’s patrol boat. During the patrol, two separate drift nets were spotted, recovered and then property disposed of by the officers. No violations were found.