Weekly Highlights - September 11, 2017

Alaska Division

• An enforcement officer initiated an investigation into a charter halibut guide who allegedly forged the angler’s portion of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game saltwater logbook. Additionally, the guide was also accused of using a BB gun to deter sea lions.
• An enforcement officer conducted interviews of subjects and witnesses for two separate reports of observer harassment.

• A special agent was contacted by the director of a Crab Rationalization Arbitration Organization to report some 20 individuals and corporations had not joined the Arbitration Organization as required. An initial review showed that some of the persons may not be required. More information will be reviewed.

Northeast Division

• While engaged in an at-sea patrol with New York JEA officers an EO responded to a mayday call from an over-turned vessel off Long Island, NY. The officers pulled three victims from the water, treated them for hypothermia and assisted in righting the overturned sailboat. The sailboat and passengers were towed back to their dock.
• An EO conducted a striped bass patrol with Connecticut JEA officers. One recreational vessel was issued a $500
  summary settlement for possession of striped bass in the EEZ.
• An EO issued a New Jersey commercial fisherman a $500 summary settlement for failing to utilize proper weak links
  on his pot gear.
• An SA forwarded an observer safety complaint to USCG District Five. The observer, who was deployed on a scallop dredge vessel operating out of Cape May, NJ, reported that the vessel anchored up at night and all the crew slept without posting a lookout as required.

Pacific Islands Division

• The PID DSAC met with Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary’s Deputy Superintendent in American Samoa and discussed enforcement needs for the sanctuary.

Southeast Division

• Two enforcement officers reviewed and processed 5 JEA cases from the Panama City area resulting in summary settlements totaling $2,400. All of the cases consisted of out of season fish varying between red snapper, gag grouper, greater amberjack, and gray triggerfish.
• A special agent initiated an investigation of a commercial vessel which did not have an ICQ account established. The vessel was on its first IFQ trip in the Gulf of Mexico. The special agent worked with the federal fish dealer, SERO staff, and Florida Fish and Wildlife officers to monitor the offload and create the proper IFQ account so that the IFQ fish could be properly deducted.
• Two enforcement officers conducted a dockside patrol in Jupiter, FL. A commercial lobster dive boat was boarded and officers found a bag of tailed spiny lobster, all of which were also short. The subject who initially stated he was fishing in federal waters changed his story and said he may have been in state waters. An FWC officer was contacted and responded who seized the lobster tails and charged the subject.

West Coast Division

• An Enforcement Officer and Special Agent conducted a boat patrol over Labor Day on the Columbia River. The patrol focused
  on the harassment of marine mammals and the retention of ESA-listed salmon and Steelhead from recreational anglers. Intel from Oregon State Police indicated an individual poaching ESA-listed salmon in the area. No violations observed.