Imagery Available: Coast Guard crew issues violation to commercial fishermen off Oregon Coast

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 07/02/2018 09:19 PM EDT

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U.S. Coast Guard 13th District PA Detachment Astoria
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Coast Guard crew issues violation to commercial fishermen off Oregon Coast

Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Orcas, a 110-foot Patrol Boat homeported in Coos Bay, Ore., get underway aboard a small boat to conduct safety boardings, June 30, 2018. A Coast Guard Cutter Orcas boarding team aboard the cutter's small boat head toward a fishing vessel to conduct a safety boarding during a living marine resources patrol off the ORegon Coast, June 29, 2018. Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Orcas climb aboard a small boat to conduct a safety boarding of a commercial fishing vessel off the Oregon Coast, June 29, 2018.

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COOS BAY, Ore. — A Coast Guard cutter crew issued a violation to commercial fishermen who caught salmon outside of the fishing season 20 miles off the coast of Newport, Oregon, Sunday.

 

A boarding team from the Coast Guard Cutter Orcas, a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in Coos Bay, issued a federal violation under 50 CFR 660.405 - fishing for, or taking and retaining, any species of salmon during closed seasons or in closed areas.

 

The crew of the vessel declared they had 18 salmon and 25 tuna on board. Commercial fishing for salmon is closed in the area between Cape Falcon, Oregon, 12 miles north of Tillamook Bay, and Humbug Mountain, Oregon, 15 miles north of Rogue River, and does not re-open until July 5.

 

“The life of a commercial fisher is one of the most difficult and dangerous professions in the world which is why cutter Orcas is dedicated to ensuring the safety of life at sea and the long-term sustainability of the commercial fishing industry in the Pacific Northwest,” said Lt. Steven Roth, commanding officer, Coast Guard Cutter Orcas. "Offshore boardings are vital to completing our assigned mission and I could not be prouder of the crew and the professionalism and expertise they displayed during our operations over the past week."

 

The crew of the cutter Orcas submitted a case package to refer case disposition to NOAA for investigation.

 

The cutter Orcas crew conducted numerous boardings over the weekend on both commercial and recreational vessels. The vast majority of the commercial fishing fleet and recreational boating public were in full compliance with federal safety and fisheries law. However, the Orcas crew found several violations ranging from missing Commercial Fishing Vessel Industry Safety Act examinations, fishing during a closed season, failure to provide an embarkation ladder to the boarding team, and expired or missing safety equipment.

 

-USCG-