Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOAA Fisheries Service
- Office for Law Enforcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 26, 2006

NOAA SETTLES SCALLOP CASES

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has settled cases with the owners and operators of three scallop fishing vessels for exceeding their scallop possession limit, making false statements to an officer, and providing false information in required reports.

On eight separate occasions, the vessels, owners, and operators were captured on surveillance video offloading scallop meat from their vessels in amounts that were well over their allowed 400-pound trip limit.

In August 2004, the FV Keller's Pride took six scallop fishing trips. It was allowed to land up to 400 pounds of scallops per trip, totaling 2,400 pounds. The vessel actually landed 8,610 pounds on these trips. In July 2004, the FV Gold Nugget II also took six trips and was allowed to harvest 400 pounds per trip totaling 2,400 pounds of scallops. The vessel actually landed 11,428 pounds of Atlantic sea scallops.

A long-term surveillance effort helped NOAA agents determine how the scheme was being conducted, how the product was transported, and who was receiving the product. Virginia Marine Patrol assisted in monitoring the vessels' activities. Agents videotaped the scheme, which was usually conducted in two stages: during the first stage, landings that represented the legal portion of the catch, or 400 pounds of product, were sent to a local dealership. During the second stage, the majority of the catch was transported out of Chincoteague to a dealer in Maryland . The United States Coast Guard also offered assistance in providing a platform for the surveillance.

The respondents agreed to the following civil penalties and permit sanctions:

• The owner of the FV Gold Nugget II , Andrew J. Willey Jr. of Hallwood, Va. agreed to a permanent ban from all commercial fishing, to sell all commercial fishing vessels he currently owns, and pay a $60,000 civil penalty;

• The operator of the FV Gold Nugget II , William F. Williams of Virginia Beach, Va., agreed to a five-year federal operator permit sanction, which means that he will no longer be allowed to be employed on a commercial fishing vessel in any capacity, and to pay a $1,000 civil penalty.

• The owner of the FV Keller's Pride and the FV Night Stalker , John T. Keller of Mappsville , Va. , agreed to a five-year operator and vessel permit sanction. During the sanction period, John Keller cannot engage in fishing or be on board any commercial fishing vessel in any capacity . During sanction period, the vessel must remain tied to the dock and may not undergo any major repairs, maintenance, or overhauls. John T. Keller also agreed to pay a civil penalty of $105,000.

• The operator of the FV Keller's Pride , Dwight E. O'Neal of Mappsville , Va. , agreed to a five-year federal operator permit sanction. The sanction will prevent him from fishing on any commercial vessel in any capacity, and to pay a $1,500 civil penalty.

In 2007 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, celebrates 200 years of science and service to the nation.  From the establishment of the Survey of the Coast in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson to the formation of the Weather Bureau and the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries in the 1870s, much of America 's scientific heritage is rooted in NOAA.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and information service delivery for transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 60 countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.

To report illegal fishing activities contact the NOAA Fisheries Service's Enforcement Hot Line at 800-853-1964.   

On the Web:

NOAA Fisheries Service: www.nmfs.noaa.gov

NOAA: www.noaa.gov

Surveillance photos and video clips are available upon request.