The NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement conducted 87 boardings of commercial fishing vessels during Operation Riptide, a two-day patrol off the coasts of New York and New Jersey.
The operation, which took place in July, was carried out to enforce federal regulations on highly migratory species.
“Collectively, we conducted patrols covering the majority of navigable coastal inlets between Cape May, New Jersey, to Montauk, New York,” NOAA Fisheries said in a December release summarizing the operation. “If left unchecked, illegal fishing creates a competitive disadvantage for law-abiding fishermen. We help level the playing field for honest fishermen by enforcing highly migratory species laws.”
The operation used state-owned vessels for the patrol, which included both NOAA Fisheries and state officers and agents. Most of the boardings – 63 – were focused on fishing vessels harvesting highly migratory species in the U.S. exclusive economic zone, but 24 boardings occurred in state waters, which extend up to 3 miles off the states’ respective coasts.
The patrols uncovered five violations of federal law and nine violations of state law.
“This operation demonstrated the combined readiness of both state and federal enforcement to mobilize and ensure regulatory compliance across the vast area of coastline between New York and New Jersey. We’re dedicated to ensuring the sustainable harvest of domestic seafood,” NOAA Northeast Division Acting Assistant Director James Cassin said in a release.
