Office of Law Enforcement

Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
About NOAA Law Enforcement 2

Staffing and Budget 3

Equipment and Training 4

Special Programs — Cooperative Enforcement and 

Vessel Monitoring Systems 5

International Program 6

Capacity Building 6

Combating Illegal, Unregulated, Unreported Fishing 9

Alaska Division 11

Enforcement Activities 12

Significant Cases 13

Pacific Island Division 15

Enforcement Activities 16

Significant Cases 17

Northeast Division 19

Enforcement Activities 20

Significant Cases 21

Southeast Division 23

Enforcement Activities 24

Significant Cases 25

West Coast Division 27

Enforcement Activities 28

Significant Cases 29

Appendix 31
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 1

Director’s Message

NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) protects marine wildlife, sanctuaries and monuments, and critical 

habitat by enforcing domestic laws and international treaty obligations designed to ensure these natural resources 

are available for future generations. OLE actively seeks to promote compliance with the nation’s marine resource 

laws, and takes measured enforcement action when these laws are violated.

This Annual Report provides an overview of how OLE successfully accomplished this mandate during the last year. 

In the following pages, you will read about a few of the many cases our enforcement officers and special agents — 

supported by dedicated staff in OLE Headquarters and in each OLE Division — investigated last year, to include 

an ivory smuggling ring, an overfishing conspiracy, mislabeling crimes, fishing during closed seasons, and the 

harassment of marine mammals. 

While we have had numerous successes, many would not be possible without the active participation from and 

alongside our state and federal partners. With our limited resources and an increased demand for those resources, 

we continued to rely on these partnerships to fill the gaps in our capabilities.

As we continue to navigate the challenges of resource management and budgetary constraints while adapting 

to new and expanding missions, we have not lost sight of our core priorities. A few of these include helping the 

fishing industry understand and adhere to regulations that support sustainable fish stocks and a sustainable fishing 

industry; monitoring fish product imports for compliance with domestic and international laws, regulations, 

and treaty obligations; implementing compliance and enforcement plans for catch share management; protecting 

fisheries observers; and preserving protected species, critical habitat, and marine sanctuaries. OLE is committed to 

continuing to ensure that our national and divisional enforcement priorities accomplish our mission and guide our 

strategic planning. 

Compliance is the cornerstone to NOAA’s enforcement program. To those members of the general public or regulated 

industries who conscientiously strive to adhere to the marine resource protection laws and regulations under NOAA’s 

purview, I offer a word of thanks. Your efforts enhance our resolve to ensure that there is a fair and level playing field 

for all who use the natural marine resources under NOAA’s stewardship. 

James Landon

Director, Office of Law Enforcement 

National Marine Fisheries Service

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

U.S. Department of Commerce

Director’s Message

James Landon

Director, Office of Law Enforcement 

National Marine Fisheries Service

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

U.S. Department of Commerce
NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement protects marine 

wildlife and habitat by enforcing domestic laws and 

supporting international treaty requirements designed 

to ensure global resources are available for future 

generations. OLE special agents, enforcement officers, 

and enforcement support staff provide compliance 

assistance, education, and outreach with the nation’s 

marine resource laws.

While OLE enforces marine resource protection laws, 

the Office of the General Counsel is NOAA’s civil 

prosecutor. Together, the two offices make up NOAA’s 

enforcement program and work with other NOAA 

program offices to establish national law enforcement 

policy. 

OLE supports the core mission mandates of NOAA 

Fisheries—maximizing productivity of sustainable 

fisheries and fishing communities, as well as protection, 

recovery, and conservation of protected species.

Stats and Facts about OLE

OLE jurisdiction generally covers ocean waters between 3 and 200 miles 

offshore and adjacent to all U.S. states and territories; this is called the 

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). 

Jurisdiction includes:

• 3.36 million square miles of open ocean.

• More than 95,000 miles of U.S. coastline.

• 14 National Marine Sanctuaries and four Marine National Monuments.

• High Seas and international trade relating to U.S. treaties and 

international law.

To cover this extensive territory, OLE agents and officers are assigned to 

five divisional offices and 53 field offices throughout the States and U.S. 

territories. Additionally, OLE partners with local enforcement agencies and 

other federal organizations to maximize efficiency. 

2 Office of Law Enforcement Annual Report FY15

About the Office of 

Law Enforcement

Stewardship 

Through Enforcement

Annual global economic losses 

due to illegal, unreported, and 

unregulated (IUU) harvesting and 

trafficking of fish and wildlife 

are rapidly rising. IUU fishing 

jeopardizes an industry that 

employs an estimated 35 million 

full- and part-time fishermen 

worldwide. 

In 2013, Americans consumed 

4.6 billion pounds of seafood and 

spent an estimated $86.5 billion 

on fishery products. By producing 

and marketing a variety of fishery 

products for domestic and foreign 

markets, the commercial marine 

fishing industry added $42.2 billion 

to the U.S. Gross National Product.
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 3

Staffing 

Protecting the nation’s marine 

environment requires people, 

both “boots on the ground” and a 

support staff to enable and leverage 

the work of our sworn staff. 

Normal levels of turnover in law 

enforcement organizations dictate a 

need to regularly hire and train new 

employees. However, government 

hiring freezes, budgetary constraints, 

and challenges related to the hiring 

process have resulted in a decline 

in the overall number of employees 

at OLE for the past 5 consecutive 

years. However, FY 2015 saw the 

smallest drop in full-time employees 

(FTEs) in any of the past 5 years and 

we expect the downward trend to 

reverse itself in FY 2016.

 In FY 2015 OLE began working 

with an independent contractor on 

a comprehensive staffing analysis. 

The intent was to identify an 

operating model that will allow OLE 

to meet its operational mission, 

while providing the optimal level of 

support to its agents and officers in 

the field. The analysis and resulting 

recommendations, expected in 

FY 2016, will factor in the unique 

enforcement, investigative, and 

outreach needs in regional divisions 

and field offices. Additionally, 

it should help define strategic 

placement of staff based on skill 

sets necessary to address OLE’s 

mission throughout NOAA’s area of 

responsibility. 

Although there was a small overall 

decrease in staff in FY 2015, OLE 

was able to fill a number of critical 

leadership roles that had been 

vacant including:

• The OLE Director.

• The Assistant Director for Alaska 

Division.

• Five Supervisory Enforcement 

Officers.

In order to fill critical mission needs, 

OLE hired three administrative 

officers and 13 enforcement officers. 

Additionally, three non-competitive 

reassignments were made for 

special agents to fill priority areas, 

one Knauss Sea Grant Fellow was 

selected and an enforcement tech 

was relocated to assist with demands 

in the International IUU fishing 

program. 

Among other uncertainties, future 

budgets will affect actual staffing 

levels and the rate at which OLE will 

be able to change the composition 

of its workforce. OLE will 

closely monitor and evaluate the 

implementation of staffing plans, 

and will adapt as needed to changes 

in national and regional priorities, 

internal and external capabilities, 

funding levels, and related factors.

Budget

NOAA’s FY 2015 enacted 

enforcement budget was $65 

million. These funds were 

distributed among five areas: 

• $36.65 million for the Enforcement 

and Surveillance Base Funds 

(salaries, benefits, etc.).

• $18.18 million for the 

Cooperative Enforcement 

Program (CEP) — for more 

information see page 5. 

• $6.85 million for the Vessel 

Monitoring System (VMS) — 

for more information see page 5.

• $1.93 million for NOAA 

Fisheries activities. 

• $1.38 million for the Driftnet 

Act Implementation.

During FY 2015, OLE worked 

closely with the Department of 

Commerce, Congress, and the 

Administration to highlight the 

growing importance of NOAA’s 

IUU fishing enforcement efforts. 

The FY 2016 Presidents Budget 

highlights these needs with a 

request for an additional $3 million 

and 15 full time employees to 

directly address efforts to combat 

IUU fishing.

147

127

114

102 93 89

18 22 22 30 29 38

20 31 29 28 28 27

49 45 47 41 41 35

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Special Agents Enforcement Officers ENF Support Admin Support

225 212 201 191 189

Total

234

Alaska Division (1 partner)

Northeast Division (10 partners)

Pacific Island Division (4 partners)

Southeast Division (9 partners)

West Coast Division (3 partners)

$2.8 $1.1

$5.7

$1.3

$5.4

Staffing Numbers

OLE to JEA Funds Per Million
Equipment 

Vessels: 16 Total

Alaska Division

Taku Wind – 5,785 lbs. / 26 feet

Willawaw Wind – 5,785 lbs. / 26 feet

Aleutian Wind – 6,345 lbs. / 27 feet

Chinook Wind – 6,345 lbs. / 27 feet

Kenai Guardian – 6,945 lbs. / 26 feet

Susitna – 1,200 lbs. / 20 feet

Maintenance cost – $32,858.67 

Engines – $28,179

Fuel – $9,490.42

Docking – $3,584.40

Towing – $26,378

Storage – $24,540

Total cost for FY15 – $125,030.49

Pacific Islands Division

SafeBoat – 13,804 lbs. / 33 feet

Maintenance cost – $80,292.55

Fuel – $8,886.99

Towing – $2,250

Equipment – $84,655.88

Total cost for FY15 – $176,085.42

Southeast Division

Carolina – 6,300 lbs. / 25 feet

Titusville – 5,201 lbs. / 24 feet

Galveston – 5,201 lbs. / 24 feet

Barracuda – 5,201 lbs. / 24 feet

Harlingen – 5,201 lbs. / 24 feet

Maintenance cost – $34,812.04

Fuel – $2,900.47

Storage – $5,892

Total cost for FY15 – $43,604.78

West Coast Division

Commander – 3,780 lbs. / 21 feet

SafeBoat – 10,300 lbs. / 27 feet

SafeBoat – 10,300 lbs. / 27 feet

Northriver – 1,100 lbs. / 17 feet

Maintenance cost – $13,043.98

Fuel – $1,141.47

Total cost for FY15 – $14,185.45 

Cost Differences 

Each year the cost varies for the 

OLE vessel fleet. The determining 

factors include operational needs 

and maintenance costs. Regular 

inspections are conducted to 

ensure all equipment is properly 

maintained, and if the item has met 

its lifecycle it is replaced. 

Vehicles: 180 Total

Headquarters – 6 vehicles

Alaska Division – 43 vehicles, 1 ATV

Northeast Division – 34 vehicles 

West Coast Division – 38 vehicles

Pacific Islands Division – 14 vehicles 

Southeast Division – 44 vehicles 

Training

All OLE officers and agents 

attend training at the Federal Law 

Enforcement Training Center 

(FLETC) in Georgia. The extensive 

training received for initial entry to 

the force spans a total of 32 to 34 

weeks. 

Staff must also attend a periodic 

in-service where mandatory 

content includes criminal and civil 

law legal updates; General Counsel 

– Enforcement Section (GCES) 

summary settlement training; 

Agency policy and directives; 

Weapons qualification and use of 

force; Baton training; First Aid 

and CPR. Additional training 

subjects may be determined based 

on recommendations from the 

National Training Center (NTC) 

or from the National Leadership 

Team (NLT) to the Director.

Enforcement Officer:

12 Weeks – FLETC Uniformed 

Police Training Program (UPTP)

4 Weeks – NOAA Enforcement 

Training (NET) – Basic

4 Weeks – FLETC Marine Law 

Enforcement Training Program 

(MLETP)

12 Weeks – NOAA Field Training 

and Evaluation Program (FTEP)

Special Agent:

12 Weeks – FLETC Criminal 

Investigator Training Program

4 Weeks – NOAA NET 

4 Weeks – FLETC MLETP

2 Weeks – FLETC Case 

Organization and Presentation 

Training Program

12 Weeks – FTEP

4 Office of Law Enforcement Annual Report FY15

Headquarters
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 5

Cooperative Enforcement 

Program 

The Cooperative Enforcement 

Program (CEP) aims to increase 

living marine resource conservation, 

endangered species protection, and 

critical habitat enforcement while 

strengthening state and territorial 

enforcement resources.

Under the CEP, OLE has signed 

27 Joint Enforcement Agreements 

(JEAs), which formalize operational 

plans that transfer funds to 

state and U.S. territorial law 

enforcement agencies to perform 

law enforcement services in support 

of federal laws and regulations.

Below are the states with which we 

have signed agreements: 

• Alabama

• Alaska

• American Samoa

• California

• Connecticut

• Delaware

• Florida

• Georgia

• Guam 

• Hawaii

• Louisiana

• Maine

• Maryland

• Massachusetts

• Mississippi

• New Hampshire

• New Jersey

• New York

• Northern Mariana

• Oregon

• Puerto Rico

• Rhode Island

• South Carolina

• Texas

• Virginia

• USVI

• Washington

OLE ensures its active presence, 

visibility, and routine interactions 

with the regulated industry by 

partnering with state marine and 

natural resource enforcement 

agencies. OLE’s partnerships with 

these enforcement agencies are 

vital to ensuring routine dockside 

monitoring and inspections and 

at-sea patrols.

OLE agents and officers leverage 

JEA partnerships to conduct joint 

operations to carry out OLE’s 

mandate at the state, local, and 

international levels.

Vessel Monitoring System 

The Vessel Monitoring System 

(VMS) is a satellite surveillance 

system primarily used to monitor 

the location and movement of 

commercial fishing vessels in 

the U.S. EEZ and treaty areas. 

The system uses satellite-based 

communications from on-board 

transceiver units, which certain 

vessels are required to carry. 

The transceiver units send 

position reports that include 

vessel identification, time, date, 

and location, and are mapped 

and displayed on the end user’s 

computer screen.

VMS allows OLE and other 

enforcement agencies to monitor 

compliance, track violators, and 

provide substantial evidence for 

prosecution. Additional capability 

and uses include:

• Managing sensitive areas such as 

marine sanctuaries.

• Monitoring activity and arrivals 

in port to plan for sampling.

• Supporting catch share 

programs.

• Tracking, monitoring, and 

predicting fishing effort, activity, 

and location.

• Managing observer programs.

• Verifying/validating data from 

other sources.

• Identifying fishing vessels.

This year the VMS program 

saw several modifications. New 

agreements expanded the VMS 

program from 22 fisheries and 

added the requirement for all 

vessels fishing under the High Seas 

Fishing Compliance Act (HSFCA) 

and the Inter-American Tropical 

Tuna Commission (IATTC) have 

VMS units aboard.

On December 24, 2014, a final 

rule was published in the Federal 

Register that codifies the typeapproval standards, specifications, 

and procedures for vendors to 

maintain approval for their VMS 

devices and services. This rule 

more clearly defines standards 

regarding communication devices, 

revised latency standards, and 

established type-approval, renewal, 

revocation, and appeals processes 

for vendors and users. The rule 

went into effect January 23, 2015 

and impacted more than 1,000 

VMS users. 

Staffing Numbers Headquarters
OLE special agents, enforcement officers, and enforcement support 

staff have actively participated in capacity building activities on the 

international level, including law enforcement workshops in Indonesia, 

Philippines, Mexico, Honduras and Ghana. Capacity building, for OLE, 

involves providing organizations and communities the tools, resources, 

information, and information sharing avenues to allow them to solve IUU 

issues, usually through technical assistance and training workshops.

Indonesia: In partnership with U.S. Agency for International Development 

(USAID), OLE led a series of technical assistance workshops for the 

Government of Indonesia and Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and 

Fisheries (MMAF) in combating IUU fishing practices and the trade in 

IUU fish products. Topics included intelligence 

tools to combat IUU fishing, use of technology, 

investigative methods and evidence collection, 

maritime interdiction of IUU vessels, Port 

State Measure (PSM), Monitoring Control and 

Surveillance (MCS) measures, market measures 

to combat IUU, legal tools and prosecution of 

fisheries violations, and global initiatives to 

combat IUU fishing and trade in IUU products.

Ghana: OLE participated in a regional law 

enforcement and prosecution workshop 

in Accra, Ghana. The workshop included 

participants from seven West African countries 

and the enforcement portion focused on 

investigative techniques necessary to inspect 

and investigate vessels suspected of IUU fishing.

Honduras: OLE held two workshops in 

Honduras that focused on the traceability of 

spiny lobsters. The workshops were attended by 

representatives from the local processing plants, 

local fishermen and Honduran fisheries officials. 

6 Office of Law Enforcement Annual Report FY15

International Program

Capacity Building 
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 7

Mexico: OLE held a training on 

the identification, regulation, 

and management efforts for sea 

cucumbers. The training also 

focused on the Lacey Act and 

inter-agency sharing of intelligence 

to combat the illegal harvest of 

sea cucumbers and other sea food 

sources.

Formal Meetings

U.S. – European Union (EU) IUU 

Working Group: Members of OLE’s 

International Program along with 

personnel from various other 

NOAA offices met with delegates 

of the European Commission’s 

Directorate-General for Maritime 

Affairs and Fisheries at NOAA 

Headquarters in Silver Spring, 

Maryland. The purpose of this 

meeting was to discuss issues 

of mutual interest between 

both law enforcement offices in 

regards to the fight against IUU 

fishing. The group reviewed their 

activities and initiatives within 

Regional Fishery Management 

Organizations (RFMOs), discussed 

areas of collaboration in regard 

to combating IUU fishing and 

arranged for an operational 

law enforcement meeting at 

the European Fisheries Control 

Agency headquarters in Vigo, 

Spain.

U.S. – Mexico Fisheries Law 

Enforcement Cooperation: During 

the Meeting of the Fisheries 

Authorities of Mexico and the 

United States in Washington, 

DC, representatives of OLE met 

with members of CONAPESCA 

and the Mexican Navy during a 

separate breakout meeting. This 

meeting focused on discussing 

areas of potential improvement 

and collaboration in the arena 

of information sharing, priority 

species in regards to IUU fishing, 

and EEZ incursions. 

U.S. – EU Seminar on Fisheries 

Control: Members of OLE 

International Program met 

with law enforcement officials 

and inspectors of the European 

Fisheries Control Agency at their 

headquarters in Vigo, Spain, to 

discuss the operational aspects of 

fisheries law enforcement in both 

regions, exchange information and 

best practices, and find areas of 

potential collaboration in efforts to 

combat IUU fishing. 

Intergovernmental Consultative 

Committee (ICC) meeting: Russian 

and U.S. negotiators signed a 

bilateral agreement to combat IUU 

fishing. The agreement aims to 

improve coordination among the 

multiple government agencies in 

both countries that need to work 

together to address IUU fishing.

Informal Meetings

April 2015: OLE hosted a meeting 

with environmental prosecutors 

from Thailand who were interested 

in learning how the United States 

responds to marine wildlife 

trafficking, including both the 

investigative and prosecutorial 

aspects. 

July 2015: Representatives from 

Korea’s Ministry of Oceans 

and Fisheries (MOF) met with 

members of OLE at NOAA 

headquarters for the first time 

to discuss possible collaboration 

between the parties on MCS issues 

and combating IUU fishing. The 

discussions included overviews of 

OLE and MOF operations, each 

organization’s VMS programs, and 

possible collaboration in technical 

assistance specific to enforcement 

efforts to combat IUU fishing.

Selling sperm whale teeth in international and interstate commerce violates the Lacey Act.

Staffing Numbers
8 Office of Law Enforcement Annual Report FY15
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 9

International Program

Combating Illegal, Unreported, 

Unregulated Fishing

Background

In June 2014, the White 

House released a Presidential 

Memorandum that called for the 

creation of a task force to combat 

IUU fishing and seafood fraud, 

co-chaired by the Departments of 

State and Commerce and involving 

12 other federal agencies. 

In December 2014, after 

engaging the public and key 

stakeholders, the IUU Task Force 

identified 15 recommendations 

for the implementation of a 

comprehensive framework of 

integrated programs to combat 

IUU fishing and seafood fraud. 

Those 15 recommendations are 

divided into four broad themes: 

• Combating IUU fishing and 

seafood fraud at the international 

level. 

• Strengthening enforcement and 

enhancing enforcement tools.

• Creating and expanding 

partnerships with non-federal 

entities to identify and eliminate 

seafood fraud and the sale of 

IUU seafood products in U.S. 

commerce. 

• Increasing information 

available on seafood products 

through additional traceability 

requirements. 

In March 2015, the Task Force 

issued its action plan to implement 

the recommendations and the Task 

Force itself was dissolved; the work 

of the Task Force is now carried 

out by the National Ocean Council 

Committee on IUU Fishing and 

Seafood Fraud (NOC Committee).

OLE and the IUU Task Force

NOAA is identified as the lead 

or co-lead agency for 10 of the 

15 recommendations, and within 

NOAA OLE specifically co-leads 

two of the recommendations. 

OLE coordinates with Department 

of Homeland Security Customs and 

Border Protection (CBP) as well as 

the Department of Justice (DOJ) 

to carry out Recommendation 8, 

which calls for the creation of a 

strategy to optimize the collection, 

sharing, and analysis of information 

and resources to prevent IUU or 

fraudulently labeled seafood from 

entering U.S. commerce. 

The Recommendation 8 working 

group has completed the July 2015 

major deliverables (the creation of 

a memorandum of understanding 

(MOU) inventory and the creation 

of sub-working groups to focus on 

information sharing, joint operations, 

forensics, and coordination) and is 

in the final clearance stages for its 

optimization strategy. This working 

group is on track to meet all of its 

future deadlines.

OLE also works with DOJ to 

lead Recommendation 11, which 

calls for federal agencies to work 

with state and local enforcement 

authorities to expand information 

sharing and develop tools that 

address IUU fishing and seafood 

fraud at the state and local level. 

As of September 2015, the 

Recommendation 11 working 

group has delivered all of its major 

deliverables (prioritization of 

combating IUU fishing and seafood 

fraud under OLE’s Cooperative 

Enforcement Program and DOJ’s 

investigation and prosecution of 

cases) and is on track to meet all of 

its future deadlines.

In addition to leading the working 

groups on Recommendations 8 and 

11, OLE is also part of the working 

group for Recommendations 

1 (implementing Port State 

Measures), 2 (identifying RFMO 

best practices), 6 (capacity 

building), 12 (broadening 

enforcement authorities), and 

14/15 (creation of a seafood 

traceability program). 
10 Office of Law Enforcement Annual Report FY15
Alaska Division

Staffing snapshot:

29 Full Time Employees 

12 Contractors

AKD Budget:

Total Allocated – $8.0 Million

JEA Funding – $1.1 Million

Headquarters:

709 W. 9th Street

Room 831L

Juneau, AK 99802-1767

Field Offices: 

Kodiak, AK

Dutch Harbor, AK

Anchorage, AK

Homer, AK

Seward, AK

Sitka, AK

Petersburg, AK

Ketchikan, AK

Will Ellis

Assistant Director

Alaska supports a massive seafood industry and is the largest state for 

domestic fish landings in America. If it were a country, Alaska would be the 

ninth largest seafood producer in the world, as 59 percent of all U.S. seafood 

landings occur in Alaska. The ex-vessel price for Alaska’s fisheries is more 

than $1.9 billion, while the value of Alaskan seafood sold at first wholesale 

breaks $3 billion. The total economic impact of the seafood industry (direct, 

indirect, and induced efforts) in Alaska was estimated at $5.4 billion in 2013. 

Alaska’s living marine resources also feed thousands of Alaskans. 

Commercially important species of seafood from Alaska include five 

species of salmon, five species of crab, walleye Pollock, Pacific halibut, 

Pacific cod, sablefish, and herring. 

OLE’s Alaska Division is unique in that the region only includes the State of 

Alaska, which is made up of the mainland and more than 200 islands. This is 

dramatically different from the multi-state regions of the continental United 

States. Similarly, there’s a mix of sport, commercial, and subsistence fisheries 

that overlap state and federal jurisdictions and regulations. Also, the region’s 

diversity in terrain, challenging weather, and vast distances constantly 

challenge the effective use of fishery enforcement resources in Alaska. 

There’s also an interesting international component to the AKD. The 

geographic proximity to foreign countries provides additional interagency 

cooperation and international relations challenges. The commercial fisheries 

include significant levels of complexity, in that international relations, 

regulations, and treaties all play roles in developing enforcement goals, policies, 

and multi-jurisdictional enforcement strategies. International complexities 

extend to some Alaska sport fisheries, for example, halibut are cooperatively 

state and federally enforced, but ultimately regulated by an international treaty 

(International Pacific Halibut Commission). The Alaska Division also regularly 

encounters IUU fishing, as well as foreign fishing vessels.

Working with Regional Partners

Alaska’s large distances, limited infrastructure, and complex fisheries 

management scheme necessitate robust interagency partnerships, which 

can act as a force multiplier to maximize an enforcement footprint and 

minimize unnecessary enforcement duplication. Therefore, effective 

interagency cooperation across the spectrum of Alaska fisheries 

enforcement operations is a top priority for AKD. Regional partners 

661

VMS 

Vessels

142

VMS

Users

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 11
12 Office of Law Enforcement Annual Report FY15

include the U.S. Coast Guard; 

Alaska Wildlife Troopers and 

Department of Fish and Game; 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S. 

Forest Service; NOAA Fisheries 

Sustainable Fisheries and Protected 

Resource Divisions; industry 

groups; and tribal governments.

Operations

For each OLE Division the vast 

majority of staff time is spent 

patrolling the waters, performing 

inspections, conducting interviews, 

and working with partnering 

agencies on joint-operations. The 

graph at right accounts for the 

operational actions of the division. 

Note: This information does not 

include the extensive outreach 

and customer service that VMS 

personnel provide on a daily 

basis, nor can it fully capture the 

interaction our agents, officers, and 

support staff regularly have with 

industry. 

In FY 2015 the Alaska Division 

documented 1,875 incidents, 

ranging from a complaint to 

an investigation (graph below). 

The majority of the incidents 

were related to the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation 

and Management Act (MSA) 

and Northern Pacific Halibut Act 

(NPHA). Each incident allows for 

critical face-to-face interactions 

between the OLE field staff and the 

industry. 

Of the 1,875 incidents, AKD 

documented 1,452 investigations. 

An investigation can range from 

performing a log-book or haul 

inspection to witness interviews 

and executing search warrants. 

Some investigations are complex 

and may take years to adjudicate. 

For that reason, not all incidents 

are completed and closed each 

fiscal year. For FY 2015, AKD 

closed 1,681 incidents. The 

majority of the incidents were 

completed by education and 

outreach (858). 

265

85

45

100

6

Compliance Assistance 39

Training Provided

Education

Meetings

Outreach

Patrols

Patrols and Compliance Assistance Activities

Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 

Northern Pacific Halibut Act

Marine Mammal Protection Act

Endangered Species Act

Northern Pacific Fisheries Act

Federal Regulations 

State Regulations 

Lacey Act 

Pacific Salmon Treaty

Whaling Convention Act

1,438

344

40

24 9 5 5 4 3 3

Unique Incidents and Cases by Law, Regulation, Program

Alaska Division
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 13

Cases of Significance

Sustainable Fisheries

NOAA General Counsel settled 

with American Seafoods Company 

for flow scale tampering on three 

of their Pollock catcher/processor 

vessels. The company paid a $1.75 

million civil penalty. Flow scales are 

used to determine the weight of the 

vessel’s catches. By manipulating the 

scales, the company was able to catch 

more pollock than allowed. NOAA 

Fisheries observers on the vessels 

noticed discrepancies in the weight 

of their samples and reported their 

observations to OLE. The offenses 

took place in the Bering Sea in 2007, 

2011, and 2012. The cases were 

investigated by two OLE Agents.

Notices of Violation and 

Assessment of civil penalty 

(NOVAs) totaling $61,000 were 

issued to the captains of the F/V 

Butterfly and the F/V Resolution, 

and to an individual fishing quota 

(IFQ) permit holder, for harvesting 

halibut without the IFQ permit 

holder on board and unlawfully 

transshipping and landing the 

fish. Settlement agreements were 

reached with the Resolution’s 

captain and the IFQ permit holder.

A NOVA for $85,630 was issued 

to the owner/operator of the Spicy 

Lady for violations occurring in 

2010 that concerned retaining IFQ 

halibut and sablefish in excess of 

the unharvested IFQ applicable to 

the relevant regulatory areas held 

by all IFQ permit holders aboard 

the vessel, and for failure to log 

halibut gear set or retrieval. The 

case was settled for $68,504. 

A NOVA for $59,901 was issued 

to the owner/operator of the F/V 

Ocean Oasis for retaining IFQ 

halibut on the vessel in excess of 

the unharvested IFQ applicable to 

the relevant regulatory area held 

by all IFQ permit holders aboard 

the vessel. The case was settled for 

$59,701.

An employee of U.S. Seafoods on 

the F/V Alliance was charged with 

two counts of observer harassment 

for conduct that had the effect 

of interfering with observers’ 

work performance. The conduct 

occurred in 2011 and 2012. The 

company was charged with one 

count of negligent supervision of 

the employee related to the second 

count. NOVAs were issued to the 

employee and the company. The 

cases settled for a total of $57,000.

An administrative law judge issued 

an Initial Decision favorable to 

NOAA in a civil penalty case 

concerning the F/V Carlynn. The 

owner/operator was found liable 

for retaining IFQ sablefish onboard 

his vessel in a regulatory area for 

which he had no IFQ permit. The 

administrative law judge assessed a 

civil penalty of $4,600.

IUU Fishing

A NOVA was issued for $100,000 

to the corporate owner of the 

Russian-flagged fishing vessel, 

Admiral Kolchak. The vessel was 

about 1,100 yards inside the 

maritime boundary line when it 

was detected by the U.S. Coast 

Guard. While the Coast Guard was 

unable to interdict and seize the 

vessel, the on-scene helicopter crew 

developed a case package clearly 

showing illegal fishing.

Protected Resources 

On June 1, the Anchorage Office 

received a report of several dead 

Steller sea lions on a beach near 

Cordova, Alaska. A special agent 

and an enforcement officer traveled 

to Cordova to investigate; their 

efforts were coordinated with 

NOAA’s Protected Resources 

Division biologists, and the 

USCG. A total of 15 sea lions, 

three harbor seals, one harbor 

porpoise, and one gray whale were 

found dead over a 20-mile area 

of sandbars in the Copper River 

Delta. Though some of the animals 

were badly decomposed, there 

were indications that the animals 

had been killed deliberately. 

Investigation is ongoing; a reward 

of $7,500 is offered for pertinent 

information leading to the 

conviction of the guilty party.

The owner and operator of the 

M/V L’ook, a tour boat operating 

out of Juneau, were charged with 

taking by harassment orcas and 

humpback whales. NOVAs totaling 

$13,230 were issued. The cases 

settled for $11,907.

Other Enforcement Activities

An enforcement officer assisted in 

the rescue of two male individuals 

from the waters of Sumner Strait. 

The enforcement officer was on 

vessel patrol with an Alaska Wildlife 

Trooper and a U.S. Forest Service 

Officer. The two victims stated their 

boat sank suddenly while pulling 

commercial halibut gear and they 

had no time to call for help or utilize 

flotation devices. Without survival 

suits, the two fishermen were 

hypothermic in the 50-degree water. 

The trio of law enforcement officers 

had to act quickly to effectively 

recover the fishermen from the 

elements without harming them 

with the pitching patrol vessel or the 

partially submerged fishing boat. 

While the trooper maneuvered the 

patrol vessel close to the sinking 

fishing vessel; the other two local 

enforcement officers pulled the men 

from the water; stripped wet clothes 

from them and wrapped them in 

wool blankets; and transported 

them back to Petersburg for medical 

attention and support from family 

members.

Alaska Division
14 Office of Law Enforcement Annual Report FY15
The Pacific Islands Division was established in October 2004 and is 

geographically the largest division in OLE. The Division encompasses the 

State of Hawaii, the territories of Guam and American Samoa, and the 

Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The State of Hawaii 

ranks as the tenth largest for domestic fish landings.

PID has responsibilities for a number of protected resources initiatives 

involving marine mammals and endangered species. The Hawaiian Islands 

Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary adjacent to the Main 

Hawaiian Islands as well as the several endangered species of sea turtles, 

Hawaiian Monk Seals, and Humpback Whales that populate the area 

place great demands on the Division’s limited assets. In addition to the 

Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, the Division is also 

charged with protecting the three relatively new Marine Monuments in 

the Central and Western Pacific. 

Each of the four monuments poses a unique set of compliance-related 

challenges because of the distances involved. 

PID works closely with Regional Fisheries Management Organizations and 

NOAA Fisheries Science Centers, and partners with local, state, and federal 

agencies, stakeholders, and others to find science-based solutions 

to complex issues. 

While other divisions occasionally encounter cases related to tuna, PID 

regularly sees tuna incidents along with other highly migratory species. 

The various longline and purse seine vessels within the U.S. permitted fleet 

operate extensively throughout established U.S. and foreign EEZs in the 

Pacific, and international waters. The need to effectively monitor these U.S. 

vessels along with foreign vessels that engage in IUU fishing in these vast 

waters, poses enforcement issues for the PID rarely faced in any other part 

of the United States. 

Working with Regional Partners

The attention to international matters, accompanied by those within the 

U.S. territories and the commonwealth, is a high priority for the Division. 

The extensive landing/importation and processing of fish within Guam, 

American Samoa, and CNMI, and landings by U.S. purse seine vessels in 

foreign ports present significant challenges to PID. The Division works 

Pacific Islands Division

Staffing snapshot:

21 Full Time Employees 

PID Budget:

Total Allocated – $3.9 Million

JEA Funding – $1.3 Million

Headquarters: 

1845 Wasp Blvd.

Building 176

Honolulu, HI 96818

Field Offices: 

Pago Pago, AS (American Samoa)

Hagatna, GU (Guam)

Bill Pickering

Assistant Director

261

VMS 

Vessels

180

VMS

Users

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 15
16 Office of Law Enforcement Annual Report FY15

closely with the governments of 

the foreign nations that make up 

the region, the U.S. Coast Guard, 

and the U.S. Department of State in 

supporting and enforcing a number 

of treaties and conventions, such 

as the South Pacific Tuna Treaty, 

the Western and Central Pacific 

Fisheries Commission, and the 

Convention on the Conservation of 

Antarctic Marine Living Resources.

Operations

For each OLE Division the vast 

majority of staff time is spent 

patrolling the waters, performing 

inspections, conducting interviews, 

and working with partnering 

agencies on joint-operations. The 

graph at right accounts for the 

operational actions of the division. 

Note: This information does not 

include the extensive outreach 

and customer service that VMS 

personnel provide on a daily 

basis, nor can it fully capture the 

interaction our agents, officers, and 

support staff regularly have with 

industry. 

In FY 2015 the Pacific Islands 

Division documented 397 

incidents, which ranges from a 

complaint to an investigation 

(graph below). The majority of 

the incidents were related to 

the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management 

Act (MSA) and Endangered 

Species Act (ESA). Each incident 

allows for critical face-to-face 

interactions between the OLE field 

staff and the industry. 

Of the 397 incidents, PID 

documented 333 investigations. 

An investigation can range from 

performing a log-book or haul 

inspection to witness interviews 

and executing search warrants. 

Some investigations are complex 

and may take years to adjudicate. 

For that reason, not all incidents are 

completed and closed each fiscal 

year. For FY 2015, PID closed 376 

incidents, including 43 investigations 

that were initiated in previous years. 

Note: During FY 2015, the NOAAGeneral Counsel for Enforcement 

Section (GCES) issued 15 Notice of 

Violations and Assessments (NOVA) 

with a total value of approximately 

$1.14 million from cases referred by 

the PID.

Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 

Endangered Species Act

Marine Sanctuaries Act

Marine Mammal Protection Act

Western Pacific/Forum Fisheries Agency

South Pacific Tuna Act

State Regulations 

Federal Regulations 

Homeland Security

Lacey Act 

186

88

39

37

26

7 6

3 2 3

253

9

17

3

2

Compliance Assistance 11

Training Provided

Education

Meetings

Outreach

Patrols

Patrols and Compliance Assistance Activities

Unique Incidents and Cases by Law, Regulation, Program 

Pacific Islands Division
Cases of Significance

IUU/Port State Measures

A special agent developed an 

operation targeting the illegal sale 

and trafficking of sperm whale 

teeth and marine mammal ivory in 

Hawaii. The operation purchased 

and sold contemporary sperm 

whale teeth/walrus ivory in an 

undercover capacity on multiple 

occasions to various targets. 

During operational activities, 

enforcement personnel uncovered 

wildlife smuggling and trafficking 

activities allegedly perpetrated by 

a local Honolulu-based business. 

Following this joint OLE/USFWS 

investigation, a Federal Grand 

Jury indicted the Hawaii-based 

retail business and five individuals 

for conspiring to illegally import 

whale bone carvings, walrus ivory 

carvings, black coral carvings, 

and other products derived from 

protected species of wildlife into 

the United States. 

The indictment, totaling 21 counts, 

included charges of conspiracy to 

smuggle, smuggling, Lacey Act 

trafficking, Lacey Act mislabeling, 

and export smuggling. If convicted, 

the individual defendants face up 

to 20 years in prison for each count 

of illegally importing merchandise; 

up to 10 years in prison for 

exporting ivory; and up to 5 years 

in prison on each of the other 

charges, including conspiracy. 

Additionally, each charge carries a 

maximum fine of $250,000 for the 

individuals and $500,000 for the 

business/corporation. 

Sustainable Fisheries 

A special agent completed an 

investigation involving a U.S. 

flagged purse seine vessel that 

allegedly conducted multiple sets 

on fish associated with one or 

more live whales in violation of 

the Marine Mammal Protection 

Act (MMPA). This same vessel is 

also alleged to have fished on fish 

aggregating devices (FADs) during 

the Western and Central Pacific 

Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) 

FAD closure period. This case 

stems from allegations made by 

an Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) 

observer working aboard the 

subject vessel. 

An enforcement officer issued a 

$3,000 summary settlement to 

a Hawaii longline fishing vessel 

where the owner/operator fished 

with an expired WCPFC permit, 

an expired Limited Entry permit 

and an expired High Seas Fishing 

permit. 

Sanctuaries and Monuments 

An administrative law judge 

upheld joint and several 

liability on an investigation and 

subsequently assessed the owner 

of a longline fishing vessel $54,366 

for three counts of removing 

and harvesting fish within the 

Papahanaumokuakea Marine 

National Monument.

Protected Resources 

A special agent has an ongoing 

investigation involving the death 

of a baby Hawaiian monk seal on 

the Island of Kauai that apparently 

had been killed by dog bites. This 

case is being worked jointly with 

Hawaii DOCARE (JEA partner) 

on Kauai, and with assistance from 

the NOAA Fisheries Office of 

Protected Resources. Currently, the 

special agent has been gathering 

records of statements and necropsy 

findings related to the attack, and 

continuing to coordinate with 

DOCARE. 

A PID special agent is conducting 

an investigation regarding a 

juvenile Hawaiian monk seal that 

was found dead on the Island of 

Kauai, with a crushed skull. The 

case is being worked jointly with 

Kauai DOCARE. 

An investigation involved a 

U.S. purse seine vessel that has 

been the focus of two previous 

investigations for setting on 

whales while conducting purse 

seine fishing operations. The 

investigation involved multiple 

fishing masters and captains 

as potential targets, as well as 

the company. The investigation 

resulted in a total of six MMPA 

counts of setting on whales. 

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 17

Pacific Islands Division
18 Office of Law Enforcement Annual Report FY15
Northeast Division

995

VMS 

Vessels

944

VMS

Users

Staffing snapshot:

42 Full Time Employees 

3 Contractors

NED Budget:

Total Allocated – $6.4 Million

JEA Funding – $5.7 Million

Headquarters: 

55 Great Republic Drive

Suite 02-300

Gloucester, MA 01930

Field Offices: 

Boston, MA

Ellsworth, ME

Portland, ME

New Bedford, MA

Wall, NJ

Bellport, NY

Marmora, NJ

Salisbury, MD

Newport News, VA

Logan Gregory

Assistant Director

Unlike its counterpart divisions to the west, the Northeast Division is 

comprised of 10 coastal states. With so many partners to work with, NED 

embraces a collaborative approach to our mission. 

Four of the top 10 international landing ports, by weight and value, are 

found in the NED — New York, Portland (ME), Boston, and Norfolk. 

Among the most common imports found in this region are crab, lobster, 

and shrimp. Additionally, NED has four of the top 10 states for domestic 

fish landings in America, including Massachusetts, where the 14-year 

leading port, New Bedford, is found. The Port of New Bedford’s ranking 

status is the direct result of the scallop fishery; scallop landings account for 

more than 81 percent of New Bedford seafood landings.

The NED established a compliance assistance liaison position, to improve 

education and communications within the Northeast fishing industry and 

with other stakeholders. A central part of this position is to work directly 

with industry to solve problems, whether those issues involve understanding 

the regulations, ensuring their gear is in compliance, or providing additional 

information regarding fishing and other marine resource regulations.

Working with Regional Partners

The NED has strong working relationships with the coastal state fishery 

enforcement agencies under the NOAA Cooperative Enforcement 

Program. These Joint Enforcement Agreements enable OLE to leverage 

our budget and improve our enforcement of federal fishery regulations and 

improve compliance. In addition to state partners, NED works closely with 

two U.S. Coast Guard Districts and their Living Marine Resource branches 

in Districts 1 and 5. Recent partnerships have expanded with key federal 

agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Customs 

and Border Protection (CBP), involved in ensuring consumer safety and 

integrity as it relates to seafood fraud. 

NED also works closely with two regional fishery management councils 

and one major interstate commission. 

The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) is one of eight 

regional councils established by the MSA. The NEFMC manages fishery 

resources within the federal 200-mile limit off the coasts of Maine, 

New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The 

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is responsible for management 

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 19
20 Office of Law Enforcement Annual Report FY15

of fisheries in federal waters that 

occur predominantly off the midAtlantic coast. States with voting 

representation on the Mid-Atlantic 

Council include New York, New 

Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, 

Maryland, Virginia, and North 

Carolina. 

NED also provides support to the 

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 

Commission. This group was 

formed by the 15 Atlantic coast 

states in 1942 in recognition that 

fish do not adhere to political 

boundaries. The Commission 

serves as a deliberative body, 

coordinating the conservation and 

management of the states shared 

near shore fishery resources – 

marine, shell, and anadromous – 

for sustainable use.

Operations

For each OLE Division the vast 

majority of staff time is spent 

patrolling the waters, performing 

inspections, conducting interviews, 

and working with partnering 

agencies on joint-operations. The 

graph at right accounts for the 

operational actions of the division. 

Note: This information does not 

include the extensive outreach 

and customer service that VMS 

personnel provide on a daily 

basis, nor can it fully capture the 

interaction our agents, officers, and 

support staff regularly have with 

industry. 

In FY 2015 the Northeast Division 

documented 813 incidents, 

ranging from a complaint to 

an investigation (graph below). 

The majority of the incidents 

were related to the MSA and the 

Atlantic Coastal Fish Cooperative 

Management Act (ACFCMA). 

Each incident allows for critical 

face-to-face interactions between 

the OLE field staff and the industry. 

Of the 813 incidents, NED 

documented 726 investigations. 

An investigation can range from 

performing a log-book or haul 

inspection to witness interviews 

and executing search warrants. 

Some investigations are complex 

and may take years to adjudicate. 

For that reason, not all incidents 

are completed and closed each 

fiscal year. For FY 2015, NED 

closed 697 incidents. The majority 

of the incidents were completed by 

education and outreach (276). 

Patrols and Compliance Assistance Activities

579

339

110

16

43

Compliance Assistance 30

Training Provided

Education

Meetings

Outreach

Patrols

Unique Incidents and Cases by Law, Regulation, Program 

Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 

Atlantic Coastal Fish Coop Management

Marine Mammal Protection Act

Atlantic Tuna

Lacey Act 

Endangered Species Act

State Regulations 

High Seas Fisheries Compliance Act

Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources

492 156

73

39

31

12 5 3 2

Northeast Division
Cases of Significance 

Sustainable Fisheries 

Lou’s Fish Market Inc. and company 

president Mark Parente pleaded 

guilty to federal felonies stemming 

from their role in systematically 

covering up purchases of illegal 

fluke, scup, and black sea bass that 

were being harvested in violation of 

the federal RSA Program. Parente 

pleaded guilty to two counts of 

wire fraud, one count of aiding and 

abetting mail fraud and one count 

of falsification of federal records 

for fraud schemes that ran from 

May through December 2011. 

Parente directed unwitting company 

personnel to prepare and file at 

least 78 false dealer reports to OLE, 

which omitted or misidentified 

approximately 203,000 pounds of 

fluke, 50,000 pounds of scup, and 

12,000 pounds of black sea bass 

with a wholesale value stipulated 

as $481,000. Lou’s Fish Market Inc. 

pleaded guilty to the falsification 

of federal records charge and one 

count of Lacey Act, false labeling for 

the knowing use of false documents 

in connection with approximately 

70,000 pounds of fluke that was 

shipped to interstate customers. 

The two defendants agreed to 

pay $932,000 in combined fines 

and restitution. The defendants 

also agreed to make a $110,000 

community service payment for the 

enhancement of seagrass and fluke 

habitat around Long Island, among 

other monitoring and future fishing 

restrictions. 

Alan Dresner pleded guilty in 

federal court to one count of 

wire fraud for criminal violations 

stemming from his role in 

systematically underreporting fluke 

that was being harvested as part 

of the federal Research Set-Aside 

(RSA) Program. Dresner was a 

Brooklyn, New York, based federally 

permitted dealer who conspired 

with Anthony Joseph to underreport summer flounder landings 

under the guise of RSA quota. The 

scheme involved his falsification 

and internet submission of at 

least 120 fisheries dealer reports 

from July 2009 to December 2011 

resulting in over-harvested and 

underreported fluke valued at 

$510,000. As part of his sentence, 

Dresner will serve 4 months in 

prison followed by 3 years of 

supervised release. The defendant 

was fined $6,000 and ordered to 

make a $15,000 community service 

payment to the Cornell Cooperative 

Extension of Suffolk County in 

order to pay for the enhancement 

of fluke habitat in the waters of 

Long Island through the CCE’s 

Marine Meadows Program. Dresner 

was ordered to pay $510,000 in 

restitution to the Marine Resources 

Account of the New York State 

Conservation Fund and ordered to 

surrender his federal dealer license.

IUU/Port State Measures 

Todd Reeves, Thomas Reeves, Renee 

Reeves, and their oyster dealer 

company, Shellrock LLC, were 

sentenced for their roles in a scheme 

to traffic in illegally harvested oyster. 

The defendants had been previously 

convicted of creating false oyster 

records, trafficking in illegally 

possessed oysters and obstructing 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration 

regulations pertaining to public 

health and safety. Todd Reeves was 

sentenced to serve 26 months in 

prison and 3 years of supervised 

release, to pay a $7,000 fine, and 

to pay New Jersey $140,000 for 

the restoration of oyster beds in 

Delaware Bay. Thomas Reeves was 

sentenced to serve 16 months in 

prison and 3 years of supervised 

release and pay a $7,000 fine, and 

Renee Reeves was sentenced to serve 

5 years of probation and pay a $2,500 

fine. Todd, Thomas, Renee and 

Shellrock were found liable for the 

restitution. Todd and Thomas Reeves 

were additionally ordered to forfeit 

$144,000 to substitute assets for the 

vessels that they used to over-harvest 

the oysters. The Reeves’ business, 

Shellrock, also known as “Reeves 

Brothers,” was ordered to pay a fine 

of $70,000 and complete a term of 5 

years of probation. 

Mark Bryan and his company 

Harbor House Inc. were sentenced 

for their role in the Reeves et. al. 

oyster trafficking case. Bryan was 

sentenced to 26 months in prison 

and 3 years of supervised release. 

He was fined $62,500 and is jointly 

responsible for restitution to New 

Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife 

in the amount of $140,000. His 

special assessment is $500. Harbor 

House Inc. was fined $250,000 

and received 5 years of probation. 

The company is jointly liable for 

the $140,000 in restitution and its 

special assessment is $2,000.

A fourth person, Kenneth Bailey 

was sentenced for creating false 

oyster records and trafficking in 

illegal oysters. He was sentenced to 

6 months incarceration, followed 

by 6 months of home confinement 

and 3 years of supervised release, as 

well as to pay a $10,000 fine. Bailey 

was also ordered to forfeit $75,000 

in substitute assets for the vessels 

used to over-harvest the oysters.

Robert Thompson, the former 

operations manager of Maine’s 

largest lobster cooperative, 

the Spruce Head Fishermen’s 

Cooperative, pleaded guilty in U.S. 

District Court in Portland, Maine, 

to one aggregated count of felony 

tax evasion and one aggregated 

count of misdemeanor Lacey Act 

trafficking. The plea stems from 

Thompson’s involvement in a 

scheme to move nearly $1.8 million 

in unreported American lobster in 

interstate commerce.

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 21

Northeast Division
22 Office of Law Enforcement Annual Report FY15
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 23

Southeast Division

1,095

VMS 

Vessels

586

VMS

Users

Staffing snapshot:

40 Full Time Employees 

2 Contractors

SED Budget:

Total Allocated – $6.9 Million

JEA Funding – $5.4 Million

Headquarters:

263 13th Avenue South

St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Field Offices:

Morehead City, NC

Charleston, SC

Port Orange, FL

Miami, FL

Marathon, FL

Niceville, FL

St. Petersburg, FL

Slidell, LA

Galveston, TX

Harlingen, TX

Guaynabo, PR

Aguadilla, PR

Tracy Dunn

Assistant Director

The Southeast Division is comprised of eight coastal states, extending from 

Texas to North Carolina. SED is also responsible for Puerto Rico and the 

U.S. Virgin Islands. The SED is responsible for enforcing laws mandated by 

three fishery management councils, enforcing conservation and protection 

laws in three national marine sanctuaries, and ensuring compliance with 

commercial and federal recreational laws and regulations throughout 

nearly 350,000 square miles of EEZ.

SED covers more than 3,160 miles of coastline, second only to AKD. 

However, the SED coastline offers a vastly greater number of potential 

landing sites where commercial and recreational vessels have the ability 

to land economically important species, such as red snapper and grouper, 

and IFQ managed fish stocks, swordfish, tuna and other federally regulated 

species.

SED also has the largest recreational fisheries sector in the continental 

United States. In 2013, recreational anglers conducted nearly 71 million 

fishing trips and SED accounted for more than 50 percent of these trips. 

Making the necessary number of contacts to ensure compliance in this 

sector poses a huge enforcement challenge. 

In addition to the recreational fishery, SED has a robust commercial 

industry. In 2014, federally permitted vessel conducted more than 202,000 

trips totaling $843,133,280 in revenue. SED also has the fifth (Louisiana), 

sixth (Florida), and seventh (Texas) ranked states for domestic fish 

landings in the United States. 

Four of the top 10 international landing ports, by weight and value, are 

found in this region — Miami, Savannah, Galveston, and Tampa — as well 

as the ports of entry on the U.S.–Mexico border. Among the most common 

imports found in this region are tuna, shrimp, and crab.

Working With Regional Partners

To accomplish its mission, the SED works closely with the Southeast 

Regional Office, Fisheries Science Center, and two interstate marine 

fisheries commissions, and also partners with local, state and federal 

agencies. 

One of the partners that SED works with is the South Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council, which is charged with managing fisheries off 

the coasts of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. 
24 Office of Law Enforcement Annual Report FY15

Working with the South Atlantic 

Council, SED is first to know 

about regulation and amendment 

developments and fishing closures 

to prevent overfishing if landings 

approach annual catch limits. 

The main partner program 

providing the SED with the means 

to increase patrol, monitoring, 

and inspection services is the 

Cooperative Enforcement Program 

(CEP). Seven states and two 

territories have entered into Joint 

Enforcement Agreements (JEAs) 

allowing state officers authority to 

enforce Federal regulations under 

NOAA’s jurisdiction.

Operations

For each OLE Division the vast 

majority of staff time is spent 

patrolling the waters, performing 

inspections, conducting interviews, 

and working with partnering 

agencies on joint-operations. The 

graph at right accounts for the 

operational actions of the division. 

Note: This information does not 

include the extensive outreach 

and customer service that VMS 

personnel provide on a daily 

basis, nor can it fully capture the 

interaction our agents, officers, and 

support staff regularly have with 

industry. 

In FY 2015 the Southeast Division 

documented 538 incidents, 

ranging from a complaint to 

an investigation (graph below). 

The majority of the incidents 

were related to the MSA and the 

Atlantic Coastal Fish Cooperative 

Management Act (ACFCMA). 

Each incident allows for critical 

face-to-face interactions between 

the OLE field staff and the industry. 

Of the 538 incidents, SED 

documented 477 investigations. 

An investigation can range from 

performing a log-book or haul 

inspection to witness interviews 

and executing search warrants. 

Some investigations are complex 

and may take years to adjudicate. 

For that reason, not all incidents 

are completed and closed each 

fiscal year. For FY 2015, SED closed 

493 incidents, which includes 16 

previously initiated investigations. 

In order to close 139 incidents, 

OLE worked with the General 

Counsel to adjudicate cases. 

Patrols and Compliance Assistance Activities

Compliance Assistance

Training Provided

Education

Meetings

Outreach

Patrols 172

38

57

4

27

16

Unique Incidents and Cases by Law, Regulation, Program 

Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 

Endangered Species Act

Marine Sanctuaries Act

Marine Mammal Protection Act

Lacey Act 

CITES investigation

State Regulations 

Atlantic Tuna

Federal Regulations

High Seas Fisheries Compliance Act

Homeland Security

88 327

46

30

29

5 3 3 3 22

Southeast Division
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 25

Cases of Significance

IUU/Port State Measures 

Garcia Shrimp Company, LLC, 

pleaded guilty to a one count 

felony violation for mislabeling 

more than 35,000 pounds of 

imported Mexican shrimp as 

product of the United States. The 

company purchased the imported 

shrimp and removed the labels 

identifying it as product of Mexico. 

It then created false bills of ladings 

and unloading tickets to make the 

shrimp appear harvested aboard 

a U.S. flagged vessel. Pursuant to 

the plea agreement Garcia Shrimp 

was ordered to pay a criminal fine 

of $150,000. Garcia Shrimp was 

also sentenced to a 3-year term 

of probation with conditions that 

subject the company to increased 

labeling, record keeping, and 

auditing requirements. The 35,000 

pounds of shrimp previously 

seized was later sold in a forfeiture 

auction for $120,800.

Charles Veach, Ryan Veach, and 

Tyson Veach were each sentenced 

to serve a term of imprisonment 

of 6 months, followed by a 1-year 

period of supervised release. 

Additionally, the Court ordered 

the forfeiture of the fishing vessel 

used in the offense, including its 

engines, tackle, and gear. Each 

of the three defendants was also 

sentenced to pay a $25,000 fine.

Each defendant was sentenced 

based on their prior guilty pleas 

to the offense of knowingly 

transporting, selling, receiving, 

acquiring, and purchasing lobster 

in violation of the laws and 

regulations of the State of Florida. 

Additionally, the corporate entity 

operated by the defendants, Super 

Grouper, Inc., was sentenced 

based on its previous conviction 

for knowingly engaging and 

attempting to engage in conduct 

that involved the offer, sale, and 

intent to purchase spiny lobster in 

interstate commerce in violation of 

the laws and regulations.

Bob Kelton and Bruce Brande 

were convicted of Lacey Act and 

conspiracy to violate the Lacey 

Act charges. In their sentencing, 

Kelton received 2 years of 

imprisonment followed by 3 years 

of supervised release and a $200 

special assessment, while Brande 

received 1 year and 1 day of 

imprisonment followed by 1 year 

of supervised release and a $200 

special assessment. As owners 

of DR Imports, a marine life 

business based in Miami, they were 

falsely labeling illegally harvested 

Florida live rock from the Florida 

Keys National Marine Sanctuary 

(FKNMS) as a lawfully harvested 

product of Haiti.

Charles Jamison was sentenced 

after previously pleading guilty to a 

Lacey Act conspiracy violation for 

the sale and purchase of juvenile 

bonnethead sharks. Jamison will 

complete an 18-month term of 

probation and will pay a $2,000 

fine. He is barred from engaging in 

the marine wildlife industry during 

the period of probation and will 

forfeit the vessel, trailer, tackle, and 

gear he used in the illegal activity. 

Between June 2012 and October 

2012, Jamison engaged in 

the illegal harvest and sale of 

bonnethead sharks taken from 

the waters off the Florida Keys, 

and in the FKNMS. The animals 

were then shipped by a variety of 

means, including rental truck and 

as commercial air cargo.

Protected Resources

An $86,250 NOVA was issued 

to the owner and operator of the 

Motor Vessel Cosco Nagoya. The 

OLE investigation revealed that the 

vessel had far exceeded the 10-knot 

speed restrictions during 49 

separate incidents in the Seasonal 

Management Areas off of the East 

Coast. Official logbook records 

from the South Korean company 

were analyzed along with evidence 

provided by the U.S. Coast Guard 

showing false entries.

Cory James Moseley and Cade 

Ryan Moseley pleaded guilty 

to a federal wildlife violation in 

connection with the death of a 

bottlenose dolphin in Cow Bayou 

last year, were sentenced to 1 year 

of probation, including a ban on 

hunting and fishing, and will share 

$7,354 in restitution.

The brothers received identical 

punishments, which also included 

50 hours of community service and 

a $500 fine. Officially, the Moseleys 

were charged with one count of 

taking a marine mammal from U.S. 

waters, a misdemeanor.

Southeast Division
26 Office of Law Enforcement Annual Report FY15
The West Coast Division is comprised of the coastal states Washington, 

Oregon, and California. Throughout the WCD are managed fisheries for 

salmon and steelhead, more than 90 species of groundfish, coastal pelagics 

such as anchovy and sardine, and highly migratory species such as billfish, 

sharks and tunas. 

Two of the top 10 international landing ports, by weight and value, are 

found in the WCD — Seattle and Los Angeles. Among the most common 

imports found in this region are tuna, salmon, and squid. 

The WCD shares borders with two countries and has five national marine 

sanctuaries along its coast. The division has its own Endangered Species 

Act listed Southern Resident Killer Whale population in the Puget Sound 

and deals with complex threats to salmon and steelhead habitat through 

stream alteration, water depletion, and drought conditions.

Working with Regional Partners

The number of violations detected throughout the WCD exceeds the 

division’s capacity to investigate them. The division leverages federal 

partners, the CEP, enforcement officers, and special agents to mitigate 

criminal activity. Federal partners like the U.S. Coast Guard, CBP, USFWS, 

and the EPA help the division identify and investigate crimes at sea, in 

critical habitat, and on the borders. State police, through the CEP, are given 

broad authority and specific direction to conduct patrols and outreach in 

areas where division resources are scarce or violations are low-level but 

prevalent. Enforcement officers enhance the CEP patrols with their subject 

matter expertise and conduct short-term investigations while special 

agents identify the most impactful cases to investigate and prosecute.

The WCD regional partners designate critical habitat areas and develop 

protective regulations that become part of the OLE education and 

outreach efforts. Ensuring the general public has the latest information is 

of the utmost importance to maintaining sustainability and conservation 

standards. 

Upon notice of upcoming operations and waterway-related construction, 

WCD agents and officers follow up to ensure these actions, plans, and 

programs do not harm native species. Of the marine mammal species in the 

West, some are abundant and healthy, such as harbor seals and gray whales, 

while others are protected under the Endangered Species Act, in addition to 

West Coast Division

1,047

VMS 

Vessels

361

VMS

Users

Staffing snapshot:

40 Full Time Employees 

2 Contractors

WCD Budget:

Total Allocated – $6.4 Million

JEA Funding – $2.8 Million

Headquarters: 

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98115

Field Offices: 

Bellingham, WA

Westport, WA

Lacey, WA

Portland, OR

Roseburg, OR

Astoria, OR

Newport, OR

San Diego, CA

Monterey, CA

Sacramento, CA

Santa Rosa, CA

Arcata, CA

Bill Giles

Assistant Director

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 27
28 Office of Law Enforcement Annual Report FY15

their protections under the Marine 

Mammal Protection Act. In the 

Northwest, Southern Resident killer 

whales in Puget Sound are listed as 

endangered under the ESA.

Operations

For each OLE Division the vast 

majority of the staff time is spent 

patrolling the waters, performing 

inspections, conducting interviews, 

and working with partnering 

agencies on joint-operations. The 

graph at right accounts for the 

operational actions of the division. 

Note: This information does not 

include the extensive outreach 

and customer service that VMS 

personnel provide on a daily 

basis, nor can it fully capture the 

interaction our agents, officers, and 

support staff regularly have with 

industry. 

In FY 2015 the WCD documented 

459 incidents, ranging from a 

complaint to an investigation 

(graph below). The majority of 

the incidents were related to the 

MSA and the Marine Mammal 

Protection Act (MMPA). Each 

incident allows for critical face-toface interactions between the OLE 

field staff and the industry. 

Of the 459 incidents, WCD 

documented 325 investigations. 

An investigation can range from 

performing a log-book or haul 

inspection to witness interviews 

and executing search warrants. 

Some investigations are complex 

and may take years to adjudicate. 

For that reason, not all incidents 

are completed and closed each 

fiscal year. For FY 2015, WCD 

closed 430 incidents, which 

includes 105 previously initiated 

investigations. 

Unique Incidents and Cases by Law, Regulation, Program 

Patrols and Compliance Assistance Activities

Compliance Assistance

Training Provided

Education

Meetings

Outreach

Patrols 224

23

133

5

26

82

198

100

72

28

27

15 7 6

2 2 1 1 Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 

Marine Mammal Protection Act

Endangered Species Act

Marine Sanctuaries Act

Federal Regulations 

Lacey Act 

Northern Pacific Halibut Act

State Regulations 

CITES investigation

High Seas Fisheries Compliance Act

Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources

Pacific Albacore Tuna

West Coast Division
Cases of Significance

Protected Resources 

Kam Wing Chan, a Los Angeles 

business owner pleaded guilty in 

San Diego federal court to one 

count of smuggling 37 pounds 

of dried abalone into the United 

States at the San Ysidro Port 

of Entry (POE) from Mexico. 

Chan’s furniture business, Kaven 

Company, pleaded guilty to one 

count of smuggling 58 totoaba 

swim bladders into the United 

States. In addition to his furniture 

business, Kaven Company was also 

involved in importing seafood (sea 

cucumber, shark fins, and fish) 

from Mexico and exporting it to 

Hong Kong. The investigation 

revealed Chan was sending 

product, using his sister’s business 

in Hong Kong.

A joint investigation with EPA and 

WDFW resulted in the Washington 

Attorney General’s Office charging 

William Cayo, Sr. in Mason County 

District Court with violations of 

the Water Pollution Control Act 

and Shoreline Management Act, 

and with conducting unpermitted 

hydraulic activities in connection 

with the alteration of the channel 

of the Tahuya River in early 

February 2013. Cayo used an 

excavator and bulldozer to fill 

the river channel near his home, 

and to redirect the river, which 

is critical habitat for threatened 

Hood Canal chum salmon and 

Puget Sound steelhead. In all, 

Cayo filled and graded nearly 1.5 

acres of river bed. Cayo was tried 

in Mason County District court 

and was convicted by a jury on all 

counts. Cayo was subsequently 

sentenced to 30 days in jail for each 

count, to be served concurrently. 

He was also fined $8,143, received 

2 years of probation, and was 

ordered to follow civil and criminal 

environmental laws applicable to 

the Acts above.

IUU/Port State Measures

Tony Ahn pleaded guilty in 

federal court in San Diego to one 

misdemeanor Lacey Act count 

of importing eight totoaba swim 

bladders into the United States in 

violation of Mexican law. In May 

2014, Ahn attempted to drive 

across the US..-Mexico border 

and declared only two fish he was 

bringing into the United States. A 

secondary inspection uncovered 

eight dried totoaba swim bladders. 

Ahn forfeited the product to the 

U.S. government and is providing 

information on other targets.

UK citizen Steven Hedley and his 

company Hedley Humpers Inc. 

entered into a plea agreement with 

the U.S. DOJ that was accepted 

by the U.S. District Court for the 

Northern District of California. 

This plea agreement stemmed from 

an investigation and undercover 

buy operation, which determined 

that Hedley and his company 

conspired with a United States 

company to ship marine mammal 

products falsely declared as 

antiques and household goods 

to the United States avoiding the 

required permits. Pursuant to the 

plea agreement, Hedley and Hedley 

Humpers Inc. pleaded guilty to a 

single count of smuggling wildlife 

(specifically, sea turtle shells and 

a giant clam shell) into the United 

States. Sentencing took place 

in July. Hedley was ordered to 

pay a fine of $75,000 as criminal 

penalty, and a $25,000 penalty in 

lieu of community service that 

will be transferred to the National 

Wildlife Fund. The corporation was 

sentenced to three years’ probation 

and was ordered to pay $100,000 

in fines and community service 

payments. 

Sustainable Fisheries

An open access groundfish vessel 

landed sablefish from federal 

waters without a functioning 

VMS unit a violation of the MSA. 

The vessel has a prior history of 

violating fisheries regulations. A 

total of 2,100 pounds of federal 

groundfish were offloaded, 

including a trip limit overage of 

sablefish. The catch proceeds, 

valued at approximately $5,400, 

were seized. Additionally, it was 

discovered that a vessel crew 

member had an arrest warrant 

for a state violation. The crew 

member was taken into custody by 

a California Department of Fish 

and Wildlife (CDFW) warden and 

transported to Ventura County jail.

The captain of an open access 

vessel was issued a $4,000 

summary settlement after an 

initial investigation determined 

he fished in federal waters and 

landed $1,033 worth of groundfish 

without a VMS unit. The violation 

to the MSA was referred by a JEA 

CDFW warden who had conducted 

a boarding, and review of the 

landing ticket showed the vessel 

landed federal groundfish but did 

not have a VMS unit onboard.

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 29

West Coast Division

VMS view of the California coast 
30 Office of Law Enforcement Annual Report FY15
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361-1407). This act 

establishes a moratorium on the take and importation of marine mammals, 

including parts and products, and defines federal responsibilities for the 

conservation of marine mammals. The Department of Commerce through 

the National Marine Fisheries Service is charged with protecting whales, 

dolphins, porpoises, seals, and seal lions. Walrus, manatees, otters, and 

polar bears are protected by the Department of the Interior through the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service, a part of the Department of Agriculture, is responsible for 

regulations managing marine mammals in captivity. 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 

1801-1882). This act is the primary law governing marine fisheries 

management in U.S. federal waters. First passed in 1976, the MSA fosters 

long-term biological and economic sustainability of our nation’s marine 

fisheries out to 200 nautical miles from shore. Key objectives of the MSA are 

to prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, increase long-term economic 

and social benefits, and ensure a safe and sustainable supply of seafood.

Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3371-3378). This act prohibits 

the importation, exportation, transportation, sale, or purchase of fish, 

wildlife, or plants taken or possessed in violation of state, federal, tribal, 

and foreign laws. It also authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to 

designate injurious wildlife and ensure the humane treatment of wildlife 

shipped to the United States. Originally enacted in 1900, the Lacey Act is 

the nation’s oldest federal wildlife protection law.

Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543). This act prohibits 

the importation, exportation, taking, and commercialization in interstate 

or foreign commerce of fish, wildlife, and plants that are listed as 

threatened or endangered species. The act also implements the provisions 

of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1431-1439). This act authorizes 

the Secretary of Commerce to designate and protect areas of the marine 

environment with special national significance due to their conservation, 

recreational, ecological, historical, scientific, cultural, archeological, 

educational, or esthetic qualities as national marine sanctuaries. Day-today management of national marine sanctuaries has been delegated by the 

Secretary of Commerce to NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. 

The primary objective of the NMSA is to protect marine resources, such as 

coral reefs, sunken historical vessels, or unique habitats.

Appendix: Laws Enforced

NOAA’s Office of Law 

Enforcement has the 

responsibility for 

enforcing more than 

35 federal statutes, 

with the majority of 

cases falling under the 

MMPA, MSA, Lacey Act, 

ESA, and NMSA. 

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 31
32 Office of Law Enforcement Annual Report FY15

Other Statutes and 

Responsibilities

American Fisheries Act of 1998 

(Pub. Law 105-277).

Anadromous Fish Products Act 

(16 U.S.C. 1822 note, Section 

801(f)).

Antarctic Conservation Act of 

1978 (16 U.S.C. 2401-2413). 

Antarctic Marine Living 

Resources Convention Act of 

1984 (16 U.S.C. 2431-2444).

Antarctic Protection Act of 1990

(16 U.S.C. 2465(a)).

Antigua Convention 

Implementing Act of 2015 (Pub. 

Law 114-181).

Atlantic Coastal Fisheries 

Cooperative Management Act (16 

U.S.C. 5103(b)). 

Atlantic Salmon Convention Act 

of 1982 (16 U.S.C. 3601-3608).

Atlantic Striped Bass 

Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 1851 

note).

Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 

1975 (16 U.S.C. 971-971k). 

Billfish Conservation Act of 

2012 (Pub. Law 112-183, 126 Stat. 

1422-1423). 

Deep Seabed Hard Mineral 

Resources Act (30 U.S.C. 1401 et 

seq.).

Dolphin Protection Consumer 

Information Act (16 U.S.C. 1385 

et seq.).

Driftnet Impact Monitoring, 

Assessment, and Control Act (16 

U.S.C. § 1822 note, section 4006). 

Fish and Seafood Promotion Act 

of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 4001-4017).

Fisherman’s Protective Act of 

1967 (22 U.S.C. 1980(g)).

Fur Seal Act Amendments of 

1983 (16 U.S.C. 1151-1175).

High Seas Driftnet Fishing 

Moratorium Protection Act (16 

U.S.C. 1826(d)-1826(k)).

High Seas Fishing Compliance 

Act (16 U.S.C. 5506(a)).

Land Remote-Sensing Policy Act 

of 1992 (15 U.S.C. 5601 et seq.).

North Pacific Anadromous Stocks 

Convention Act of 1992 (16 U.S.C. 

5002-5012).

Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 

1982 (16 U.S.C. 773-773k).

Northwest Atlantic Fisheries 

Convention Act of 1995 (16 U.S.C. 

5601-5612).

Ocean Thermal Energy 

Conversion Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 

9101 et seq.).

Pacific Albacore Tuna Treaty Act 

(Pub. Law 108-219, 118 Stat. 615-

617, 16 U.S.C. 1821 note) 

Shark and Fishery Conservation 

Act (Pub. Law 111-348, 124 Stat. 

3668-3673, 16 U.S.C. 1801 note).

Shark Finning Prohibition Act 

(Pub. Law 106-557, 114 Stat. 2772-

2775, 16 U.S.C. 1822 note).

South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988

(16 U.S.C. 973-973r).

Sponge Act (16 U.S.C. 781 et seq.). 

Tuna Conventions Act of 1950 (16 

U.S.C. §§ 951-961).

Weather Modifications Reporting 

Act (15 U.S.C. 330-330e).

Western and Central Pacific 

Convention Implementation Act 

(16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.).

Whaling Convention Act of 1949 

(16 U.S.C. 916-9161).

Appendix: Laws Enforced

Director, Office of Law Enforcement 

James Landon

Deputy Director

Logan Gregory 

Headquarters Leadership

Todd Dubois, Assistant Director – Operations

John Longenecker, Assistant Director – Support

Casey Brennan, Chief of Staff

December 2015

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ole

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