Coast Guard, NOAA seize 700 pounds of illegally caught shrimp

Courtesy Photo | Coast Guard and NOAA representatives seized 700 pounds of shrimp from the fishing vessel Way Maker off the Louisiana coast, July 1, 2013. The crew of the Way Maker was reportedly fishing without a Gulf of Mexico shrimp permit and without using a turtle exclusion device. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)  

HOUSTON, LA, UNITED STATES

07.01.2013

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephen Lehmann 

U.S. Coast Guard District 8 PADET Houston

HOUSTON - A joint law enforcement operation involving Coast Guard crew members and agents from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration resulted in the seizure of 700 pounds of illegally caught shrimp in Louisiana waters, Monday.

A boarding team from Coast Guard Station Lake Charles along with a NOAA Fisheries enforcement officer were deployed and discovered that the crew of the fishing vessel Way Maker were harvesting shrimp without a Gulf of Mexico shrimp permit and were not employing the use of turtle exclusion devices in their shrimp trawls.

The crew was also faulted for not having the appropriate number of working fire extinguishers and for not having a working sound-producing device on board.

“By teaming up in this joint patrol, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement and the Coast Guard showed their dedication to protecting the marine resource of the United States,” said NOAA Acting Deputy Special Agent in Charge Jeff Radonski.

NOAA agents seized the 700 pounds of shrimp and is proceeding with their prosecution of the case.

• Date Taken: 07.01.2013
• Date Posted: 07.03.2013 16:14
• Story ID: 109736
• Location: HOUSTON, LA, US