Weekly Highlights - May 10, 2019

West Coast

• An Enforcement Officer conducted multiple enforcement patrols, with JEA partners, during the recreation halibut opener. Over 100 contacts were made over a four-day period with no federal violations and two state violations found.

• An Enforcement Officer was first on scene at a major injury traffic collision involving a rolled over tractor-trailer in a remote area in Oregon.  The driver and sole occupant was trapped inside the cab of the tractor. The officer crawled into the cab to access the driver’s condition and found both of his legs were pinned inside the wreckage. The officer had a bystander contact Oregon State Police and dispatch emergency personnel with heavy extrication equipment.  The officer stayed inside the cab with the victim until EMS arrived and then helped manage traffic until relieved by Oregon law enforcement officers.

Alaska

• Enforcement Officers responded to a whale stranding in the Turnagain Arm area of the Cook Inlet. A juvenile Humpback whale was spotted stranded near milepost 87 of the Seward Highway.  It freed itself with the incoming tide the first day, then washed up dead a few miles south the next morning. A necropsy was completed and Protected Resources Division is testing samples collected to determine the cause of death. Enforcement officers helped with scene safety and ensured harvesters had proper authorization.

• An Enforcement Officer initiated an investigation involving a drone operator who had operated a drone in close proximity to marine mammals. The officer referred the case to the FAA for investigation.

• An Enforcement Officer provided outreach and education during the Great Alaskan Aviation Gathering in Anchorage. Several hundred people stopped at the booth and nearly all the questions pertained to collecting marine mammal parts and registering those parts. One person requested a whale skull be taken from their property while another requested follow up on a registration already initiated. 

Pacific Islands

• A Special Agent completed an investigation involving a U.S. flagged purse seine fishing vessel allegedly setting on live whales, in violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).  This case stems from allegations made by an FFA observer working aboard the subject vessel.  Case has been submitted for review and final disposition.

• PID staff traveled to Guam and Saipan to conduct a Performance Review of the 2017 JEA.  The group met with Guam Customs Maritime Interdiction Task Force (MITF) and Department of Agriculture/Law Enforcement Section (DoAG/LES) and had an open discussion about 2017 JEA activities.  Several issues were identified and will result in a follow up within the next 60 days.  DoAG took the group on an ESA sea patrol, on the southern side of the main island of Guam, where DoAG officers explained and identified specific beaches where large female green turtles return to lay their eggs.  The beaches are secluded and pose as a challenge for enforcement.