Commercial Swordfish Violations... GOT EM!

[Ron.38 Special]

NOAA Fisheries

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2005


CONTACT:
Mark Oswell
(301) 427-2300

FLORIDA FISHERMAN ISSUED $17,500 PENALTY FOR UNDERSIZED SWORDFISH, ILLEGAL GEAR

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of General Counsel for Enforcement & Litigation has issued the owner/operator of the fishing vessel (FV) Sea Hunter a $17,500 Notice of Violation and Assessment (NOVA) and a 45 day Notice of Permit Sanction (NOPS).

The owner/operator was the subject of a joint investigation conducted by NOAA Fisheries Service’s Office for Law Enforcement (OLE), the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the U.S. Coast Guard for allegedly possessing undersized swordfish, fishing without the required permit, fishing with improper gear, and failure to report landings. The seized catch was valued at $827.00 and is subject to forfeiture.

The vessel was originally identified by an FWCC officer in June. Based on further investigation and a lookout issued by OLE, the Sea Hunter was subsequently boarded in September by Coast Guard personnel and OLE agents in Fort Pierce, Fla. The crew of the Sea Hunter allegedly connected individual hand line buoys together to form a longline. While hand line gear, consisting of a maximum of two leaders with hooks, is permitted by regulations, pelagic longline gear is prohibited along the East Coast of Florida.

“This case demonstrates the value of our Joint Enforcement Agreements as well as the high level of cooperation and support we receive from our state and federal law enforcement partners,” said Special Agent Richard Chesler, OLE – Southeast Division. “Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Coast Guard personnel were instrumental in developing this case where a fisherman completely disregarded regulations that were implemented to protect and preserve our fishery resources.”

The owner/operator of the FV Sea Hunter has 30 days from the time of receiving the NOVA to request a hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge to contest the charges.

To report illegal fishing activities contact the NOAA Fisheries Service’s Enforcement Hot Line at 800-853-1964.

NOAA Fisheries’ primary mission is to protect and conserve our nation’s living marine resources - this includes most species of marine mammals (whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions). Additional information about NOAA Fisheries Service’s marine mammal viewing guidelines and regulations can be found at: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/education/viewing.htm

NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources.


aka Albert Johnson...(Perfect Storm) was the Captain

[Rod Chucker]

cool Ron, but not enough - they should have taken the boat at least.