A federal judge in Anchorage has fined and sentenced to five months in prison a former member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council who pled guilty to violating federal fisheries regulations.
U.S. District Court Judge H. Russel Holland handed down the sentence on 7 February for Arne Fuglvog, 48, of Petersburg, a former fisheries aide to Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who was a top contender to head the National Marine Fisheries Service before he withdrew his application.
Holland also ordered Fuglvog to pay a USD 50,000 fine and to give the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation USD 100,000 for improving fish habitat in coastal areas of the Gulf of Alaska. The judge noted that Fuglvog had no prior criminal record, but also made clear his concern over damage to public confidence when public officials fail to abide by the law.
“The really serious damage that has been done here is to the public’s confidence and integrity of the North Pacific Fishery Management System,” the judge said.
