Department of Commerce
NOAA Fisheries Service
- Office for Law Enforcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2005

NOAA ISSUES $18,000 NOVA TO FISHERMAN FOR SHARK 'FINNING'

On March 4, 2005, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's Office of General Counsel for Enforcement and Litigation issued a $18,000 Notice of Violation and Assessment (NOVA) to Bruce A. Stiller, owner and operator of the fishing vessel Miss Sharon for violations of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

On Jan. 7, 2005, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission officers aboard the patrol vessel CT Randall spotted the Palm City, Fla. based vessel retrieving shark gillnet gear offshore of Melbourne, Fla. During this time of the year, shark vessels fishing with gillnet gear between Savannah, Ga. and West Palm Beach, Fla. are required to have operating Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) devices. This measure is designed to help protect endangered Northern Right whales that calve in this area between mid-November and late March of each year.

During a subsequent dockside boarding by NOAA Fisheries Service Office for Law Enforcement special agents and FWCC officers, a satchel of wet shark fins was discovered in the forward compartment area of the cabin. During questioning, Stiller claimed to be unaware of these shark fins. A detailed inspection of the catch was subsequently conducted and the agents determined that, based on carcass and fin counts, approximately 15 shark carcasses were dumped while the fins were retained.

"It is important to remember that these marine resources need the protections instilled by law to help keep them sustainable," said Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Paul Raymond of NOAA Fisheries Services Office for Law Enforcement – Southeast Division. "Partnering with the FWCC enables us to interact with more fishermen and efficiently enforce the various fishery laws."

The shark carcasses were sold at auction with the sale going into escrow, while the fins were retained pending adjudication of the case.

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

NOAA Fisheries is dedicated to providing and preserving the nation's living marine resources and their habitat through scientific research, management, and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public.

The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 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 our nation’s coastal and marine resources.