NOAA Fisheries News Releases
NEWS RELEASE
September 22, 2000
Carol Tocco, Public Affairs NMFS
(907) 586-7032
Statement by Dale Jones
Chief Office for Law Enforcement, National Marine Fisheries Service
On September 15, 2000, representatives of the At-Sea Processors Association notified NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Enforcement Division of the Office for Law Enforcement that eleven catcher-processor vessels may have violated the regulation implementing the August 7, 2000 court injunction by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Zilly prohibiting fishing in Steller sea lion critical habitat.
The At-sea Processor Association's attorneys advised Alaska enforcement officials that a number of vessels had inadvertently fished in critical habitat areas surrounding Steller sea lion haulouts on St. Paul and St. George Islands, in violation of the interim regulation. (St. Paul and St. George Islands are part of the Pribilof Island group located approximately 230 nautical miles northwest of the Alaska peninsula in the Central Bering Sea.) According to the attorneys for the association, the alleged incursions took place between August 8 and early September.
Department of Justice attorneys apprised Judge Zilly of the notification and that the Office for Law Enforcement was investigating this matter. NOAA Fisheries on September 19 issued a Sustainable Fisheries Information Bulletin (#00-86) and transmitted it via NOAA Weather Radio reminding all fishers that "all groundfish trawl fishing within Steller sea lion critical habitat west of 144W longitude is prohibited."
In addition, on September 20, 2000, representatives of United Catcher Boats and Westward Seafoods notified Judge Zilly that three additional vessels fished for pollock inside the critical habitat area surrounding the haulout on St. George Island.
Alaska Enforcement Division personnel are investigating the allegations and expect to provide a progress report to the court within the next few days. Completion of the full investigation is expected to take several more weeks due to the need to interview appropriate witnesses and gather evidence.
Judge Zilly's court order was imposed in ongoing litigation that challenges federal management of commercial groundfish fishing in Alaska, and its effect upon Steller sea lions. ( Greenpeace, et. al. v. National Marine Fisheries Service, Civ. No. C98-0492Z (W.D. Wash. 1998)) Following the court order, on August 8, NOAA Fisheries issued a news release to the media, distributed a Sustainable Fisheries Information Bulletin (#00-72) and transmitted information via NOAA Weather Radio informing fishers of the fishing areas affected by the court order.
The government views this matter as one of grave importance. The Office for Law Enforcement is determined to take measures to achieve compliance with the agency's regulation.
For additional information regarding the areas closed to groundfish trawl fishing, refer to the interim rule published in the Federal Register (65 FR 49766, August 15, 2000). The interim rule and further information on the groundfish trawl closure is available at www.fakr.noaa.gov.