On 9/11/14, COs performed a commercial fisheries compliance inspection of a vessel out of Rhode Island. This particular vessel is one of a handful that lands their catch in totes, which makes it more difficult for the COs to inspect for weight. CO’s selected two random containers and checked the weight of the fish contained in them. Each tote ultimately weighed approximately 130 pounds, which is approximately 30 pounds heavier than the captain told CO they weighed. Once the total landed catch was weighed, the COs discovered an overage of 515 pounds of summer flounder. The overage was seized, and sold to the highest bidder. Summonses for landing over the limit of 2500 pounds were issued to the captain and the owner of the vessel. The summonses carry a penalty of up to $3,000 and 6 month suspension of summer flounder landing license.
• Late August and early September has proven to be extremely busy along the Point Pleasant Canal. COs have issued over 30 summonses for various violations from littering to undersized and over limit tautog and other species. •
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/cnclminutes.htm#marine
