Weekly Highlights - May 28, 2018

Alaska Division

An Enforcement Officer and Special Agent fielded a variety of marine mammal take and subsistence halibut questions from local resource users and organizations who were scheduling several camps and outings.
Two Enforcement Officers attended a charter meeting in Sitka that was coordinated by Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Representatives of Alaska Wildlife Troopers, USCG, ADF&G, and multiple charter company owners, skippers, and crewmembers attended meeting. The Officers spoke about the 2018 Charter halibut regulations, fishing in the Sitka Sound LAMP, and fielded numerous questions from charter operators.
An Enforcement Officer and Special Agent participated in a conference call regarding activities of a vessel that violated the terms of the Crab Buyback Program. The group determined the vessel was not in compliance. The Agent called the owner before the vessel before participate in the Bristol Bay salmon fishery.

An Enforcement Officer provided compliance assistance to a vessel for leaving a Redfish exemption area after declaring into the small mesh fishery. The vessel was reprimanded by the sector and excluded from the Redfish fishery for a period of 20 days.
A Special Agent attended the Calais Maine Border Patrol Station International Intelligence Meeting. This monthly meeting is attended by our USCG, Border Patrol, Customs, FBI, USF&W, state and local police partners with an effort in building partnerships while sharing intelligence.
also mentioned with it winding down during the first week of June. Elver prices are holding at $2200 a pound.
An Enforcement Officer and Lieutenant met with mid-Atlantic Observer Program staff visiting Virginia and Maryland. The purpose of the meeting was to provide outreach and education to the commercial fishing community regarding observer coverage responsibilities and regulations.

An Enforcement Officer along with JEA partners from the Guam Customs MITF unit participated in Guam’s Police Week event. Officers displayed the JEA partner’s patrol boat, a NOAA OLE patrol truck, and passed out ESA and MMPA outreach materials to an estimated 2,100 elementary school children in attendance from Guam’s Public School District. Officers also explained and answered questions regarding the laws and regulations surrounding Guam’s Green Sea Turtle and Spinner Dolphins.
An Enforcement Officer conducted joint ESA sea patrols with JEA partners from the Guam Customs MITF unit. Officers patrolled the southeast waters off the coast of Guam. Officers monitored two recreational vessels and their fishing activities, subsequently interviewed the occupants about their trip and fish catch. No violations identified.
An Enforcement Officer along with JEA partners from the Guam Customs MITF unit conducted ESA sea patrols off the northern, western and eastern coastal waters of Guam. While on patrol in the northern waters, officers monitored the activities of a private vessel and subsequently spoke to the two occupants onboard regarding their fishing activities. No violations.

Sworn personnel participated in several International Trade Day events hosted by CBP in the ports of Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville, and Miami. Information on OLE and the SIMP program was discussed with importers, brokers, and freight forwarders. Other agencies attending included CBP, USCG, CPSC, FDA, USDA, EPA, ATF and USFWS, in addition to state agriculture departments and local port authorities.
An Enforcement Officer in coordination with the NOAA Galveston Lab released a loggerhead and a
Kemp’s ridley sea turtle. The team provided public education on the rehabilitation of sea turtles and the
Endangered Species Act as well as safe turtle handling and release guidelines.