U.S. Coast Guard
First District – Boston, MA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept 26, 2004

COAST GUARD BOARDS FISHING VESSEL, FINDS ILLEGAL CATCH

A Coast Guard Station Menemsha law enforcement team boarded a fishing vessel in New Bedford Harbor early this morning, and discovered it had over the amount of sea scallops the vessel’s permit allows for.

The fishing vessel Lophius was enroute to New Bedford, Mass. from fishing grounds about nine miles southwest of Martha’s Vineyard. On a routine patrol, the Coast Guard 41-foot utility boat radioed Lophius, and talked to the vessel’s master, who gave inconsistent information.

The Coast Guard boat, which is based out of Martha’s Vineyard, then escorted the 45-foot scalloper to Homer’s Wharf in New Bedford Harbor.

The law enforcement team began the boarding at 3:20 a.m., and was assisted by special agents from the NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement.

The fishing vessel has a general sea scallop permit, which allows it to catch up to but not over 400 pounds of sea scallops per trip. However, the fishing vessel had 3,394 pounds, nearly 3,000 pounds over the limit. The entire catch, with an estimated value in excess of $ 23,000, was seized by NOAA Fisheries agents.

Moreover, a background check on Lophius’ four person crew revealed one of them had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear for a court date, and he was taken into custody by the New Bedford Police Department.

The boarding also revealed a safety violation for an expired life raft, and the sea scallops findings have been turned over the NMFS for further investigation.