Government of Guam (U.S. Territory)
- Customs and Quarantine Agency

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2002

COOPERATIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORT SNAGS ILLEGAL NIGHTTIME SHRIMP TRAWLERS

State and federal law enforcement officers recently made four cases against shrimpers who were trawling at night in violation of an emergency federal closure.

Officers from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Marine Patrol partnered with federal agents from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service to make the cases early last week. The officers involved were Craig Whitfield and Joey Smoak of the DNR's Marine Patrol, and special agents Everett Baxter and Mark Kinsey of NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement.

Three cases were made June 15 against South Carolina boats Bounty, Lady Eva and Lady Annie. All three boats were charged with trawling at night during an emergency closure. Bounty was charged again for the same violation early morning June 17. The cases were made off the jetties in Charleston.

"This is a result of complaints coming in from other shrimpers," said DNR law enforcement officer Sgt. Craig Whitfield. "We conducted patrols three nights last week, but we weren't there at the right time. Then we received complaints from other shrimpers and went back out to do more surveillance."

Whitfield believes that the cases are significant because the primary purpose of the closure is to protect endangered sea turtles.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries had imposed emergency restrictions that prohibit shrimpers from fishing at night, and also require shrimpers to use turtle excluder devices (TEDs) that are modified to have openings large enough for leatherback sea turtles to escape. The restrictions were necessary to reduce mortality of sea turtles listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Both restrictions expired at 12:01 a.m. on June 24.

"These federal cases represent an example of great cooperation between state and federal agencies," Whitfield said. "It was a joint effort." Because these were going to be federal cases, the DNR included the two new NOAA Fisheries law enforcement agents in the area.

The court date for these cases has not yet been determined. Penalties will be determined by NOAA's General Council for Enforcement and Litigation, which handles all federal fisheries cases.

Marine Patrol officers have been patrolling federal waters off the coast of South Carolina, and have been authorized to make federal cases since 1998 when the DNR and NOAA Fisheries established a closer working relationship through implementation of a Joint Enforcement Agreement. This agreement, which authorizes state officers to make federal cases, has resulted in the prosecution of over 100 federal cases and more than 300 state cases.

"NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement agents working with its South Carolina DNR partners has had great success through cooperative efforts," said Special Agent Everett Baxter, NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement - Southeast Division. "Most recently, our combined efforts resulted in the successful detection and interdiction of three vessels engaged in trawling during the nighttime shrimp trawling closure. Our state partner, the South Carolina DNR, is a tremendous asset as a force multiplier."

"I would like to remind the public of Coast Watch, which was developed to better help citizens report violations of saltwater recreational and commercial fishing laws, as well as marine environmental laws," said Maj. Alvin Taylor of the DNR's Law Enforcement Marine Patrol in Charleston. The Coast Watch hotline number (1-800-922-5431) is toll-free and available 24 hours a day. The DNR Law Enforcement Marine Patrol Division (District 9) is responsible for enforcing coastal recreational and commercial boating/fishing regulations.

Anyone with specific questions regarding marine resources rules and regulations may contact:

DNR Law Enforcement office in Charleston (843) 762-5013
DNR Licensing office in Charleston (843) 762-5078
DNR Law Enforcement office in Columbia (803) 955-4000
DNR Law Enforcement office in Georgetown (843) 546-8523
DNR Law Enforcement office in Port Royal (843) 524-9190

For federal violations or questions, contact the NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement Hotline at 1-800-853-1964.