Observers working on a fishing vessel. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.
Weekly Highlights - October 18, 2019
Read about this week's enforcement efforts from across the country.
Northeast
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Seven Special Agents and Enforcement Officers assisted US Homeland Security Investigations and the US Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General to conduct three simultaneous search warrants. The search warrants were furtherance of an investigation into catfish smuggled into the US to avoid USDA embargoes.
Southeast
- A Key West Enforcement Officer reviewed a JEA case package in reference to a recreational vessel fishing inside the Tortugas Ecological Reserve South. The subjects were not in transit, were fishing, and in possession of Red Snapper out of season along with possessing over the bag limit of Red Grouper.
Pacific Islands
- A Special Agent referred an investigation to GCES after issuing a $2,000.00 Summary Settlement Notice to the captain of a Hawaii based commercial longline vessel who admitted turning off his vessel’s VMS unit resulting in non-continuous operation for almost 48 hours while conducting fishing operations at sea. The captain was given several extensions to pay the SS, however he subsequently refused to pay and settle the matter.
Observers working on a fishing vessel. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.