 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Department of Commerce FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOAA PENALIZES FLORIDA FISHERMEN $22,500 FOR ILLEGAL CATCH The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of General Counsel has issued a $22,500 civil penalty and a 75-day permit sanction to the captain of the St. Petersburg-based fishing vessel Angler Management for multiple federal fishing offenses. Captain Bradley S. Fitchett was commercially fishing in federal waters without the required permit. This and other alleged violations were discovered when The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers boarded the Angler Management on April 5, 2006 , in John's Pass at Madeira Beach , Fla. During an investigation, NOAA Fisheries Service Special Agent Manny Antonaras identified numerous violations, including possession of red snapper without a permit, possession of reef fish in excess of the vessel's catch limit, possession of undersized reef fish, and failure to land fish whole. “Commercial red snapper fisheries are tightly controlled and monitored as we try to rebuild this important resource in the Gulf of Mexico ,” said Special Agent Antonaras, “Those who violate red snapper regulations not only harm the red snapper population and undercut the rebuilding plan, but also jeopardize the livelihoods of law-abiding fishermen.” The owner and operator have 30 days to request a hearing before an administrative law judge. To report illegal fishing activities contact the NOAA Fisheries Service's Enforcement Hot Line at 800-853-1964. In 2007 NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, celebrates 200 years of science and service to the nation. Starting with the establishment of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson much of America 's scientific heritage is rooted in NOAA. The agency is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and information service delivery for transportation, and by 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 its federal partners and more than 60 countries to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes.On the Web :
|
 |
|||
 |
|||
 |
Home | About Us | Forms | Privacy Policy | Information Quality | Disclaimer | Contact Us | Feedback | Search |  |
 |
|
|
|
|