NOAA Fisheries News Releases
NEWS RELEASE
June 1, 2000
Carol Tocco, Public Affairs NMFS
(907) 586-7032
Susan Auer, General Counsel
(907) 586-7414
$30,000 PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO CARRY A NMFS OBSERVER
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of General Counsel in Juneau announces that on May 16, 2000, Jubilee Fisheries, Inc, entered into a settlement agreement with NOAA to resolve violations of National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) certified observer coverage requirements for its vessel, the VAERDAL. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Jubilee Fisheries admits to the charged violation and accepts a penalty of $30,000.
The violations were discovered on February 14, 1999, as a result of a routine boarding of the F/V VAERDAL by the United States Coast Guard Cutter MELLON. The F/V VAERDAL had been fishing for groundfish for 11 days in the Red King Crab Savings Sub-Area without having a NMFS-certified observer on board. According to NMFS' regulation, any catcher/processor or catcher vessel fishing for groundfish in the Red King Crab Savings Area is required to carry an observer during 100 percent of its fishing days. The case was referred to the NOAA Office of General Counsel for prosecution. According to NMFS Special Agent Kevin Heck, "A vessel owner's or operator's failure to comply with observer requirements undermines the government's ability to effectively manage the federal fisheries in Alaska. This penalty reflects the significance attributed to these types of violations."
The NMFS-certified groundfish observers play a vital role in providing real time data to NMFS for effective conservation and management of Alaska's federal fishery resources. NMFS, also referred to as NOAA Fisheries, is an agency of the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The agency conducts scientific research and provides services and products to support fisheries management, fisheries development, trade and industry assistance, enforcement, and protected species and habitat conservation programs.