Many of the boat owners tell of being offered light penalties or none for "ratting" out the auction. And, in thinly veiled terms, the state legislative, U.S. congressional and Senate delegations have protested the approach taken by NOAA enforcement toward the auction and its suppliers of fresh fish.
A three-count National Marine Fisheries allegation against Edward Boynton arrived flawed and late.
The violations supposedly occurred in August, September and October 2005, when Boynton still owned the 42-foot Sissel B, a steel-hulled stern dragger, and when he still held a federal groundfishing permit as a commercial fisherman.
By the time Dierdre Casey, enforcement attorney for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, got around to citing Boynton on April 17 for landing yellowtail flounder without having a "yellowtail authorization letter," he had been culled from the industry — his boat and permit sold off.
Read the complete story at The Gloucester Daily Times.