NE Council in Rebuke to NOAA Demands Enforcement Against Rafael’s Sector IX Co-op for Overfishing
SEAFOODNEWS.COM by John Sackton Sept. 28, 2017
The New England Fishery Management Council voted 13-1 to ask NOAA to immediately enforce regulations governing fish quota allocations to sectors in New England. The move reflected growing frustration with NOAA’s lack of enforcement for Carlos Rafael’s overfishing.
Separate from the criminal trial and the issues of vessel forfeiture, Rafael’s Sector IX Co-op is in direct violation of Co-op requirements to correctly report catch, and to not exceed their quota.
Sector IX has mis-reported and exceeded its quota by nearly 783,000 lbs during a four year period.
NOAA regulations require that when Sectors have overages, they either purchase the quota required, or have that amount deducted from their future allocations. Any overages also expose the sector to civil penalties and permit...
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