Weekly Highlights - February 19, 2021

Northeast

• Two EOs conducted a joint-patrol targeting scallop vessels due to a significant increase in market value. Two vessels were inspected and no violations were found.

Southeast

• EOs conducted a joint patrol with Georgia JEA officers to check for compliance with right whale mitigation gear. Thirteen pots were checked and found to be in compliance.

• EOs an SA and an SEO conducted a three-day joint patrol operation with USCG personnel from Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral, FL.  The patrol included the Oculina Bank HAPC and Experimental Closed Area offshore, checking charter vessels as well as monitoring dolphin tour boats within the harbor.  During the patrol, three charter vessels were boarded and three commercial vessel offloads were monitored.  Compliance assistance was given to two charter vessels for lacking pieces of required turtle mitigation gear.  A USCG boarding team was on board all three days and conducted safety checks on all vessels boarded.

West Coast

• Upon departing Año Nuevo State Park while on patrol, officers came upon a single vehicle accident.  Officers stopped and rendered assistance to the driver who reported no injuries.  California Highway Patrol was contacted and further assisted the driver with securing a tow for her vehicle.

Pacific Islands

• An Enforcement Officer and Special Agent conducted multiple sea patrols aboard patrol vessel F3503 within the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary in support of the division’s annual Protected Species Detail. During the patrols in the “Maui Triangle”, the EO and SA conducted outreach and education with over 100 ocean users regarding humpback whale approach regulations, assisted with the search for an entangled humpback whale, and monitored commercial whale watch tour operators.