Feds detail two cases of observer mistreatment

From the NOAA Office of General Counsel:

• C/P Arica — Male assistant cook Jordan St. Martin-Reyes was charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with harassing and sexually harassing two female observers onboard a vessel. A $19,000 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

• C/P North Star — Factory foreman Juvy Bongcawil was charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with harassing a fisheries observer by conduct that had sexual connotations or otherwise creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. An $18,000 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $16,200.

$101,031 settlement reached in trawl case

The NOAA Office of General Counsel reports resolution of the following case:

• F/V Ocean Peace — Owner Ocean Peace Inc. was charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with fishing in the Nearshore Bristol Bay Trawl Area after it had closed. A $111,031 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued, and the case settled for $101,031.

Sablefish harvest overage case resolved

The NOAA Office of General Counsel reports resolution of the following case charged in December:

• F/V Lea — IFQ permit holder and owner-operator Robert J. Bateman and owner Laura S. Coleman were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with possessing, selling and transporting 5,459 pounds of IFQ sablefish harvested in excess of what the IFQ permit onboard authorized, a 417 percent overage. The proceeds ($11,078.57) of the violation were forfeited by abandonment. A $3,000 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued, and the case settled for $2,700.

$59,784 penalty assessed in trawl case

The NOAA Office of General Counsel reports the following case charged in December:

• F/V Vanguard — Operator Per Hesberg and owner Vanguard Fisheries LLC were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with fishing with, and having onboard, nonpelagic trawl gear in federal reporting areas open only to pelagic trawl gear; not complying with vessel monitoring system requirements; and inaccurate reporting. A $59,784 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

Three salmon fishermen cited at Sitka

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka

Type: Undersized king salmon

On 2/8/24 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Timothy Robinson, 64, of Sitka, during a commercial salmon offload to a local processing facility. Investigation revealed Robinson had landed one undersized king salmon and had concealed two additional unreported king salmon aboard his vessel. Robinson was cited for retaining undersized salmon and failing to report on a fish ticket.

Location: Sitka

Type: Undersized king salmon

On 2/7/24 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Cale LaDuke, 42, of Sitka, during a commercial salmon offload to a local processing facility. Investigation revealed LaDuke had landed four undersized king salmon. LaDuke was cited for retaining undersized salmon.

Location: Sitka

Type: Undersized king salmon

On 2/7/24 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Ryan Andrews, 45, of Sitka, during a commercial salmon offload to a local processing facility. Investigation revealed Andrews had landed five undersized king salmon. Andrews was cited for retaining undersized salmon.

Federal officials update enforcement cases

From the NOAA Office of General Counsel:

• F/V American Dynasty — Medic Daniel Craig Azcarate was charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with sexually harassing a female fisheries observer. A $36,000 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued, and the case settled for $3,000.

• C/P Cape Horn — Operator Ata Ioapo was charged under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with sexually harassing a female observer by grabbing her buttocks without consent. A $24,000 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $6,000.

• C/P Cape Horn — Owner Cape Horn Vessel LLC and operator Peter Pack were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with fishing in a closed area. A $26,801 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $26,226.

Troopers update Cook Inlet enforcement cases

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/17/23 Soldotna Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Early Dawn commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District when commercial fishing had closed. Troopers contacted the permit holder, Abraham Porter, 45, of Kenai, and issued him a citation with a mandatory appearance in Homer District Court. Porter pled no contest at arraignment and was given a $3,000 fine with $1,500 suspended.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/17/23 Soldotna Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Cat II commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District when commercial fishing had closed. Troopers contacted the permit holder, Joshua Black, 42, of Palmer, and issued him a citation for a second commercial fishing offense with a mandatory appearance in Homer District Court. Black was given a default judgment at arraignment and a fine of $6,000.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed period

On 7/17/23 Soldotna Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Starshine commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District when commercial fishing had closed. Troopers contacted the permit holder, Donald Bridges, 75, of Soldotna, and issued him a citation with a mandatory appearance in Homer District Court. Bridges pled no contest at arraignment and was given a $3,000 fine with $1,500 suspended.

Location: Cook Inlet Central District

Type: Commercial fish closed area

On 7/18/23 Soldotna Wildlife Troopers observed the F/V Cordova commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in the Cook Inlet Central District in a closed area. Troopers contacted the permit holder, Yakov Reutov, 53, of Sterling, and issued him a citation with a mandatory appearance in Kenai District Court. Reutov pled no contest at arraignment and was given a $3,000 fine with $1,500 suspended.