Weekly Highlights - March 19, 2018

Alaska Division

• Enforcement Officers and a Special Agent contacted the manager of a groundfish processor to discuss multiple violations that occurred in 2017 including salmon passing the sorting point, failure to notify the observer of offloads, and tampering with observer’s personal effects.  
• Enforcement Officers and a Special Agent responded to a floating processor to assist with removing an eagle that flew into the factory. The eagle was uninjured and safely escorted off the premises.
• Enforcement Officers issued nine summary settlement offers totaling $10,400 to vessel operators who exceeded Gulf of Alaska pollock trip limits.

Northeast Division

• An enforcement officer provided a state lobster fishing vessel compliance assistance for Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan violations. This case aligns with Enforcement Priority No. 3 of the Northeast Divisions Strategic Plan.
• Two groundfish sector vessels were notified of being outside the redfish exemption area based on VMS when they declared their intent to switch to smaller mesh to fish on the exemption.
• A vessel on a squid trip was notified of VMS activity inside the Coral Protection Area.
• An Enforcement Officer provided compliance assistance to a vessel captain regarding a dispute with an observer about discard amounts.

Pacific Islands Division

• Compliance Assistance regarding safe-viewing distances of sea turtles was provided to beachgoers. 

Southeast Division

• An Enforcement Officer met with a charter fishing captain and host of a morning outdoors radio show. The Officer provided information pertaining to federal permits, HMS regulations, and turtle mitigation gear requirements.
• An Enforcement Officer, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service K-9 inspector, and several Florida Department of Agriculture K-9 inspectors conducted a patrol of the Miami International Airport cargo warehouses area, including LaPark, Air Canada, and China Airlines. Four shipments of snapper and grouper were examined. No violations were found.
• An Enforcement Officer and Special Agent embarked on a three-day patrol aboard USCG Cutter Charles Davis Jr. The patrol took place throughout the FKNMS, South Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico. During the patrol the crew was diverted to the north off of Cape Sable in response to a SAR mission involving a sailing vessel with mechanical issues. No violations were observed throughout the trip.

West Coast Division

• An Enforcement Officer conducted two groundfish patrols of commercial fish processors and commercial docks in Newport, OR. No violations were noted. 
• An Enforcement Officer conducted an MMPA patrol of harbor seal calving areas adjacent to Lincoln City, Toledo, and Newport, OR.
• An Enforcement Officer monitored offloads of groundfish from a limited entry, bottom trawl IFQ, commercial fishing vessel. There were no violations observed during the sorting process. The vessels permits and licenses were up to date.