NOAA Fisheries News Releases
NEWS RELEASE
June 15, 2005
Sheela McLean
(907) 586-7032
Kevin Heck
(907) 271-5745
ANCHOR POINT SPORT HALIBUT FISHERMEN BUSTED
Three sport fishermen were recently caught near Anchor Point with halibut in excess of the daily limit aboard their boat. They forfeited the illegal fish and must pay fines totaling $900.
In response to complaints, enforcement officers with NOAA Fisheries Service's Office for Law Enforcement (OLE) were watching sport halibut fishermen near Homer, Alaska who were suspected of exceeding their halibut limits.
"Such operations will be conducted throughout the summer at popular sportfishing ports" said Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Heck, Office for Law Enforcement – Alaska Division.
During the evening of Sunday, May 29, an OLE enforcement officer on patrol boarded a sport fishing vessel with three people onboard at the tractor launch in Anchor Point. The fishermen were in possession of six fish over their limit. Each of the three fishermen was fined $300 and fish overages were forfeited. The seized fish were donated to a local Homer charity. The fishermen have 30 days in which they can appeal their case before an Administrative Law Judge.
Fishermen are allowed to catch two halibut per day with a two-day possession limit (halibut sport fishing regulations, 50 CFR 300 section 24(2)(b) and section 24(7)). A copy of the regulations can be downloaded at www.iphc.washington.edu, or can be obtained from any NOAA Fisheries Enforcement office.
NOAA Fisheries Service's enforcement office reminds fishermen to review the regulations before going fishing. Violations of the North Pacific Halibut Act are serious and fishermen who violate the Act can be fined up to $25,000 per violation.
Violations can be reported to the NOAA OLE 24 hour hotline at 1-800-853-1964.
NOAA, 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 the nation's coastal and marine resources.
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 Service 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 Service, please visit: www.nmfs.noaa.gov.