Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOAA Fisheries Service
- Office for Law Enforcement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2005
CONTACT: |
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Mark Oswell
(301) 427-2300 |
RECREATIONAL FISHERMAN FINED FOR OCULINA BANK CLOSED
AREA VIOLATION
On August 20, 2005, a joint NOAA Fisheries Service – Office
for Law Enforcement (OLE) and U.S. Coast Guard patrol within the
Oculina Bank Experimental Closed Area netted a 25’ sport
fishing vessel fishing within the closed area.
A Coast Guard boat from Station Fort Pierce, Fla. intercepted
the vessel over a mile inside the Closed Area. Upon being boarded
by an OLE agent and USCG officer, Jeffrey Johnson (owner/operator),
admitted to having snapper-grouper onboard. Fishing for or possessing
snapper-grouper within the closed area is prohibited.
The Port St. Lucie (FL) fisherman was subsequently assessed a
$2,500 civil penalty for possessing snapper-grouper within the
Experimental Closed Area. Johnson has 60 days from the date he
is notified of this penalty to: pay the penalty, seek to have the
assessment modified, or request a hearing before an administrative
law judge to deny or contest the charge and the penalty assessed.
Six other sport fishing vessels were checked during the patrol
of the closed area, and no other violations were detected. Vessel
operators were provided snapper-grouper regulations brochures as
part of ongoing OLE outreach and education efforts regarding Oculina
Bank regulations.
"As a spawning ground for snapper-grouper species, the Oculina
Bank Experimental Closed Area is an important habitat, said Special
agent Richard Chesler, OLE – Southeast Division. “Removal
of grouper from the area can negatively impact fish stocks both
inside and outside of the Oculina Bank Experimental closed area."
Oculina coral (Oculina varicosa), or ivory tree coral, is distributed
along the South Atlantic shelf with concentrations occurring off
the central-east coast of Florida. The coral provides essential
habitat to a complex of fish species.
OLE special agents will be attending the Florida Sportsman Fishing
Show at the Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando from Nov. 12 – 13.
At the show they will have informational brochures and be available
to answer questions.
To report illegal fishing activities contact the NOAA Fisheries
Service’s Enforcement Hot Line at 800-853-1964.
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries
Service) is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation’s
living marine resources and their habitat through scientific research,
management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries provides effective stewardship
of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal
communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe
and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities
for the American public. To learn more about NOAA Fisheries, please
visit: www.nmfs.noaa.gov.
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.
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