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Subject: Shark Fishery Violations

Author:
Jim Morris

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Date Posted: 937384470PDT

Offshore Information Publications, Inc.
9,1-732-223-2449
CONTACT: David Miller, NOAA FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(202) 482-6090 September 8, 1999

NOAA CHARGES LOUISIANA SEAFOOD DEALER AND FISHERMAN
WITH SIGNIFICANT SHARK FISHERY VIOLATIONS

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has charged a Venice,
La., seafood dealer and a fisherman with violating shark fishery
regulations by retaining, selling and purchasing shark caught when the
fishery was closed, along with additional violations, the agency announced
today.

Notices of Violation and Assessment and Notices of Permit Sanctions were
issued against Mark Vogel, a vessel captain from Kenner, La., and Sharkco
Seafood International, Inc., a seafood dealer in Venice, La., for violating
closure, reporting, and trip limits in the shark fishery in 1996 and 1997.
Vogel was assessed a civil penalty of $130,000 and an 11 month permit
sanction. Sharkco Seafood International was assessed a civil penalty of
$250,000 and a six month permit sanction.

"These charges send a strong message to the fishing community that NOAA
will investigate and prosecute these and other fishery violations. Many
shark populations are overfished. We must protect this national resource
and ensure that fishing quotas are observed for those who follow the
rules," said Senior Enforcement Attorney Karen Antrim Raine of NOAA's
Office of General Counsel, who is prosecuting the case.

Vogel and Sharkco Seafood International have 30 days from the date they
receive the notices to either pay the penalty, seek to have the assessment
modified, or request a hearing before an administrative law judge to deny
or contest all or any part of the violations charged and the penalties
assessed. Additionally, the agency is seeking forfeiture of proceeds in
the amount of $8,759.37 from the sale of 10,937 pounds of blacktip shark
and 303 pounds of fins that were seized from Sharkco Seafood International
in April 1997 in connection with the charges. Claimants to the proceeds
from the seized catch have until Sept. 23, 1999, to file a claim and bond
or a motion for stay.

The case began when federally-deputized Louisiana officers inspected
Sharkco Seafood International during a federal shark closure and found over
10,000 pounds of shark, which were determined to have come from the fishing
vessel FLY BOY (subsequently renamed NIGHT MOVES), a federally permitted
vessel. Subsequent investigation by NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Special
Agent Andrew Emerson resulted in charges that, during federal shark
closures in September - December 1996, and in April 1997, Vogel unlawfully
retained or sold or attempted to sell shark and that Sharkco Seafood
International unlawfully purchased or attempted to purchase the shark, and
they falsified or failed to make required reports.

Additional charges stemming from the investigation are that on or about
Feb. 2, 1997, during the open shark season, Vogel landed or possessed shark
in excess of the 4000 pound trip limit, which Sharkco Seafood International
subsequently possessed, had custody or control of, or purchased and did not
make the proper reports.

NOAA Fisheries urges citizens to report fishery violations during weekly
business hours of 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 a.m. Eastern, to its Southeast Region
Law Enforcement Division at (727) 570-5344, or after hours and weekends at
its National Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964.

This and other Southeast Regional news releases and fishery bulletins are
available on the region's Internet home page: http://caldera.sero.nmfs.gov,
the Council's web site: http://www.gulfcouncil.org/index.html and NOAA's
media site: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov.

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.

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Replies:

Subject	Author	Date
Re: Shark Fishery Violations ...BUSTED!!!!	Jim Day	937517529PDT