In a decision that could reduce the liability of the Gloucester Seafood Display Auction and its fish suppliers, federal fishery prosecutors have apparently decided to put an after-the-fact cut-off date on pending allegations for catching yellowtail flounder without an authorization letter.
Parts of cases against seven of the more than 20 boats charged with selling illegal fish via the auction and the linked allegations against the auction for its part in the transactions could be affected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s decision to drop charges brought for yellowtail catches after May 1, 2006.
The NOAA counsel’s office announced the decision in an e-mail message to attorney Stephen Ouellete.
NOAA had issued complaints against boats for having caught yellowtail that were technically illegal because the boats were not carrying the yellowtail authorization letter which fine-tuned and modified fishing rights granted in the multispecies federal permits.