Department of Commerce
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
NOAA Fisheries Service
- Alaska Regional Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 1999

NOAA FISHERIES INVESTIGATES ILLEGAL HIGH-SEAS SALMON FISHING

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service has dispatched enforcement personnel and a scientist to Adak, Alaska to investigate an alleged violation of high-seas drift net fishing, banned by an international treaty and domestic statutes. The vessel was seized for illegal use of high-seas drift nets to catch salmon in the western North Pacific and will be subject to United States laws because it was operating without proper registration.

A NOAA Fisheries Alaska region special agent will interview the 25-person crew of the F/V YING-FA as part of the investigation and a continuing enforcement effort to curb illegal high seas drift net salmon fishing. "We need to understand the market that's driving this illegal fishing," said Special Agent in Charge Stephen Meyer. "If we can determine where this catch was going to be sold, it will help us eliminate the practice of illegal high-seas fishing."

A fisheries biologist from NOAA's Auke Bay Laboratory in Juneau will identify the species of salmon and collect samples of the more than six tons of catch aboard the YING-FA. Genetic analysis may determine if the fish were Asian or North American in origin. Under international law, the country of origin has primary interest and responsibility for the salmon.

Meyer also has contacted the State of Alaska to explore the possibility of donating the six tons of salmon to the relief effort for refugees of Kosovo. "I'm responding to the Governor's recent announcement of support for the salmon-to-Kosovo project," said Meyer. "If the catch is forfeited and we need to dispose of it and if we can deliver these fish to needy people, that's good."

NOAA Fisheries is cooperating with the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Marshal, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the U.S. District Attorney, the State of Alaska, and NOAA General Counsel to resolve the numerous issues associated with this vessel seizure.