Department of Commerce
- NOAA Fisheries Service
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 28, 2005
CONTACT: |
|
|
Mark Oswell / Kate Sanders, OLE
301-427-2300
|
NOAA ISSUES $45,000 NOVA AGAINST TEXAS FISHERMEN
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has
charged the owner and the operator of the Fishing Vessel (FV) Dolphin,
based out of Seabrook, TX, with a Notice of Violation and Assessment
(NOVA) totaling $45,000 and a 45-day Notice of Permit Sanction
(NOPS) for violating the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act.
NOAA Fisheries Service - Office for Law Enforcement’s Harlingen
(TX) field office concluded a five-month investigation into the
illegal fishing practices of Dolphin owner Suu Le and operator
Nung Pham. The investigation revealed numerous violations including:
failing to use VMS on numerous fishing trips, making false statements
and using live wells onboard a fishing vessel.
The investigation revealed that on several fishing trips Le and
Pham would turn-off the VMS while they fished for live bait, and
then turn the VMS back on as they moved to a new location to long
line fish for yellowfin tuna. Prior to the investigation, OLE special
agents instructed Le and Pham to use VMS for the duration of each
fishing trip.
"Both teamwork and knowledge from NOAA computer technicians
and investigators played a role in the success of this case,” said
Special Agent Rodolfo Rivera, NOAA Fisheries Service Office for
Law Enforcement – Southeast Division. “In today’s
age, technology is not only being used to link individuals to
crimes but it is now a common tool to achieve sustainability
for both the fishing industry and resources."
Penalties under the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and
Management Act can range up to $120,000 per offense and include
permit sanctions or revocations.
To report illegal fishing activities contact the NOAA Fisheries
Service’s Enforcement Hot Line at 800-853-1964.
NOAA Fisheries’ primary mission is to protect and conserve
our nation’s living marine resources - this includes most
species of marine mammals (whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and
sea lions). Additional information about NOAA Fisheries Service’s
marine mammal viewing guidelines and regulations can be found at:
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/education/viewing.htm
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency
of the
U.S. Commerce Department, 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.
Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems
(GEOSS),
NOAA is working with our federal partners and nearly 60 countries
to develop a global Earth observation network that is as integrated
as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.
|