Sport fisherman pays fine for illegally taking, importing fish from Mexican waters
California recreational fisherman settles federal case for violation of the Lacey Act

A Southern California-based recreational fisherman who imported fish that he and a partner caught illegally in Mexican waters has paid a $1,000 fine assessed by NOAA’s Office of General Counsel’s Enforcement Section.

A $1,000 Notice of Violation and Assessment was issued to Shui Yan Cheng of La Puente, Calif., the owner and operator of the fishing vessel Adele, for violating the Lacey Act by importing 179 rockfish and sand dabs into the United States. Fishing regulations in Mexico limited Cheng and his fishing partner to just 10 fish each for their one-day fishing trip to fishing grounds near Coronado Island on July 3, 2010.

The Adele was boarded by law enforcement officials from the U.S. Coast Guard and the California Department of Fish & Game after it arrived in San Diego at night with its running lights off.  The matter was then passed to NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement for further investigation.

“This penalty should send a strong message that the U.S. Government puts a high priority on preventing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in all its forms and that we will continue to work with federal, state and foreign entities to deter it,” said Don Masters, special agent in charge of NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement’s southwest division. “This fisherman exceeded the Mexican fishing trip limit by 795 percent, and the penalty should be a reminder that all fishing regulations must be taken seriously.”

The Lacey Act is the nation’s premier statute for deterring the trafficking of illegally taken plants and wildlife. It makes it illegal to import fish that was taken or possessed in violation of a foreign law into the United States. Globally, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing deprives legal fishermen and coastal communities of up to $23 billion of seafood and seafood products annually, and undermines efforts to manage fisheries in a sustainable manner.

For more information on regulations, request forms and fees for sportfishing licenses for Mexican waters, visit http://www.conapescasandiego.org. Sportfishing licenses also may be obtained in person at Mexico’s National Aquaculture and Fishing Commission’s San Diego office, located at 2550 Fifth Avenue, Suite 15.

The mission of NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement is to ensure compliance with the laws and regulations enacted to conserve and protect our nation's marine resources. To report a suspected violation, contact NOAA Enforcement’s national hotline at 1-800-853-1964.

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