"Krysten Kellum, a spokesperson with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said during the investigation officials discovered the Trans had sold 243 tuna and about 3,000 pounds of mackerel in less than a month. Investigators also issued a search warrant and found evidence of prior fishing activity that targeted crab, striped bass, halibut, shark, rockfish, lingcod, sea bass and clams."
"Prosecutors say the operation violated several commercial fishing laws, including using a vessel that was not commercially registered, employing people who did not have commercial fishing licenses, failing to obtain a Fish Receiver's License and bypassing fish landing procedures, in which the state tracks catches, enforces quotas and collects fees. When sport-caught fish are unlawfully commercialized, large volumes of data go unreported, directly undermining effective fishery management, Kellum said. This illegal overharvesting not only jeopardizes resource conservation but also negatively impacts lawful commercial fishing industries."
Richard and Shalley Tran pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of illegally selling and exchanging fish for profit or personal gain. Prosecutors allege the couple harvested and sold fish along the Northern and Central California coast dating to 2014. The Trans lacked commercial angler licenses and sold species including tuna, mackerel, crab, halibut, shark, rockfish, lingcod, sea bass and clams. Investigators found they sold 243 tuna and about 3,000 pounds of mackerel in less than a month and uncovered evidence of prior fishing activity. The operation used an unregistered vessel, employed unlicensed crew, failed to obtain a Fish Receiver's License and bypassed fish landing procedures. The couple forfeited $66,000, surrendered gear and are barred from fishing for one year with no jail time.
Read at www.pressdemocrat.com
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