


Read about this week's enforcement actions from across the country.
A Special Agent (SA) received a complaint referral from the OLE hotline of dolphin harassment in the upper Chesapeake Bay. The SA contacted the complainant, reviewed evidence footage and developed a target from a partial hull number provided. The SA contacted the subject who admitted to following pods of dolphin in his vessel, but stated that he was unaware of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The SA provided compliance assistance related to MMPA regulations, which the subject said that he would share with other boaters in his community.
Two SAs interviewed a captain suspected of providing false documentation and information to the USCG, an at-sea-monitor, and on fishing vessel trip reports (FVTRs). The FV was boarded by the USCG and found to be in possession of twice as much of a quota monitored species as the captain showed on his logbook that was provided to the USCG. A video obtained during the haul back on the vessel corroborated that the captain provided false information to the at-sea-monitor for that haul and the FVTRs completed at the end of the trip.
A Galveston Enforcement Officer issued an importer a summary settlement offer in the amount of $2,500 for importing a species (shrimp) covered under the Seafood Import Monitoring Program without a valid international fisheries trade permit ($1,500.00) and importing any species covered under the Seafood Import Monitoring Program without submitting complete and accurate information, as required. ($1,000.00)
A Special Agent received notification that a $2,400 summary settlement was paid for the possession of approximately 333 pounds of mutilated sport-caught halibut. The halibut was seized and voluntarily abandoned by the captain of the vessel. Compliance assistance provided for the use of sport- caught halibut for commercial purposes. This case was accomplished with assistance from an Anchorage based U.S. Forest Service Special Agent.