Weekly Highlights - October 4, 2019

Southeast

• A Miami, FL, Special Agent issued a Summary Settlement Offer to a vessel owner and the captain for failure to possess federal permits for South Atlantic Dolphin/Wahoo and Coastal Migratory Pelagics while conducting charters in federal waters. The vessel operator also failed to possess an Operator’s permit as required.

• A New Bern, NC Enforcement Officer assessed a $600 Summary Settlement for spearfishing in a Sanctuary Preservation Area off Key Largo, FL.

• A Galveston Enforcement Officer responded to assist the U.S. Coast Guard during a boarding of a commercial shrimp vessel found in possession of 15 red snapper and one gray triggerfish. The officer boarded the shrimp vessel via dockside and initiated an investigation and determining there was a Texas state violation and contacted TPWD where a Game Warden responded and seized the fish and assumed the violation.

West Coast

• An Enforcement Officer and Special Agent conducted maritime patrol of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.  Personnel worked alongside U.S. Coast Guard personnel ensuring compliance assistance with marine sanctuary regulations while making contact with five recreational fishing vessels in the area.  Three spot checks and two vessel inspections were conducted at-sea. A written warning was issued by the Coast Guard for safety violation and brochures were provided to each vessel related to sanctuary rules and regulations.

• Special Agents and Enforcement Officers led a multi-agency (Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA)) two-day operation named “Deep Freeze” at the Oakland Port of Entry (POE) Seaport.  Containers containing seafood product were inspected for compliance. On the second day of operation, Special Agents and Enforcement Officers conducted seafood market inspections with California Department of Fish and Wildlife wardens in the Oakland, California area.

Alaska

• An Enforcement Officer completed an investigation of an observer reported failure to release pacific halibut with a minimum of injury.  The skipper had gaffed halibut to be measured, then released the undersized halibut back into the sea.  A summary settlement of $600.00 was issued.

• A Special Agent completed two harbor patrols in Ketchikan, AK. Two vessels were boarded and no violations documented. Compliance assistance was given to one fishing lodge in regards to feeding sea lions.

Pacific Islands

• Enforcement Officers boarded a United States Flagged longline limited entry permitted fishing vessel at Pier 38 in Honolulu harbor.  A NOAA Fisheries Observer reported that an Olive Ridley Turtle was caught in the gear and killed during the haul back by the subject vessel.  The officers questioned the vessel’s captain about failing to comply with sea turtle handling requirements.