NOAA Fisheries News Releases
NEWS RELEASE
May 16, 2000
Carol Tocco, Public Affairs NMFS
(907) 586-7032
Susan Auer, Office of General Counsel
(907) 586-7414
SEIZED FISHING VESSEL FORFEITED TO UNITED STATES
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of General Counsel, the United States Attorney's Office and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service have announced that on May 3, 2000, the fifty-two foot fishing vessel (F/V) NINE was forfeited to the United States. The F/V NINE was seized from Lloyd Collins of Kenai, Alaska on September 23, 1999, after Collins used the vessel to illegally harvest and retain halibut.
Subsequent to the seizure, Collins was convicted of harvesting halibut outside the lawful fishing season, failing to report the halibut on fish tickets and federal catch receipts, and processing the halibut onboard the fishing vessel--all of which are violations of federal law.
Special Agent Ron Antaya said, "The criminal conviction of Mr. Collins and the subsequent forfeiture and sale of his vessel the F/V NINE sends a clear message to fishermen who choose to violate the nation's fishing laws and regulations that they risk the imposition of fines, imprisonment, loss of their fishing rights and the loss of their vessels."
The seizure of the F/V NINE was the result of a joint investigation conducted by NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement, the Alaska State Troopers-Division of Fish and Wildlife Protection and the United States Coast Guard.
The United States plans to sell the F/V NINE at public auction in the near future. NOAA Fisheries will issue a further press release and place notices in appropriate local media to announce the auction date, describe the auction process and provide further information about the vessel.