March 2, 2022 — NOAA Fisheries is stepping up enforcement to ensure the safety of federal fisheries observers and at-sea monitors in the Northeast. Federal laws prohibit harassment, intimidation, and interference with federal fisheries observers. These laws apply to everyone onboard during an observed fishing trip.

“We take observer and monitor safety seriously and we want vessel owners, captains, and crew to take it seriously, too,” said Jeffrey Ray, the Assistant Director of the Northeast Division for NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement. “It is illegal to interfere with or harass federal fisheries observers in any way while they are near or aboard your vessel. No exceptions.”

Working with federal and state enforcement agencies, NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement will be conducting more operations focused on observer safety and preventing harassment and interference.

“No one, including the owner, captain, or crew, are allowed to intimidate, interfere with, or harass an observer,” said Ray. “There are standards of behavior that must be followed when an observer is present on the dock or onboard a vessel.”

NOAA’s goal is to increase awareness, promote compliance, and bring to justice those who mistreat observers. Violations include both civil and criminal penalties, which could include fines exceeding $200,000 and 10 years of imprisonment. “We are going to aggressively respond to any observer incidents in the Northeast,” said Ray.

“There are many vessel owners, captains, and crew who follow the law. Others do not. The violators are who we are after,” he added.

Read the full release from NOAA