Department of Homeland Security
United States Coast Guard
- District 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 22, 2006

FISHING VESSEL'S CATCH SEIZED

Boston , Mass. - The Coast Guard escorted the 73-foot fishing vessel Ocean Queen into New Bedford , Mass. , about 2 p.m. today for targeting Atlantic Sea Scallops with illegal gear. 

A law enforcement team from the Coast Guard Cutter Dependable boarded the Ocean Queen about 100 miles southeast of Chatham , Mass. Monday evening and discovered the vessel fishing with illegally configured scallop dredges.  Scallop dredges are required to be fitted with a twine top mesh measuring a minimum of 10 inches.  The Ocean Queen's twine top mesh was significantly under this requirement prompting the Coast Guard to coordinate with NOAA Enforcement personnel to seize the vessel's catch.

NOAA Enforcement requested the Coast Guard escort the vessel back to New Bedford , Mass. , where 4000 pounds of scallops and 900 pounds of monkfish tails were seized at an estimated value of $29,000. 

The Coast Guard Cutters Dependable, a 210-foot cutter based in Cape May, N.J., and the Sanibel, a 110-foot cutter based in Woods Hole, Mass, conducted the escort of the Ocean Queen.

On the Web:
NOAA Fisheries Service: www.nmfs.noaa.gov
NOAA: www.noaa.gov