Alaska Wildlife Troopers seized more than 16 tons (14.5 metric tons) of salmon caught illegally by a handful of vessels south of Homer.
Troopers seized 33,328 pounds of salmon delivered to a processor vessel. The seizure included 1,534 pounds of pink salmon and 31,794 pounds of chum salmon.
A wildlife trooper on the patrol vessel Augustine on July 20 traveled to Dog Fish Bay and watched areas open and closed to commercial fishing, troopers said.
He observed four commercial fishing seine vessels work together to drive salmon out of a closed area to an open water area, where fish were illegally harvested.
The fishermen used vessels and hand plungers to drive the fish. A net set up in both open and closed waters was used to catch the fish.
Troopers cited operators of four vessels for commercial fishing violations. Three vessel operators from Homer were issued citations for illegally driving fish and other counts. An Anchor Point vessel operator was cited for failure to obtain a fish transporter permit, failure to complete fish tickets and unlawful possession of commercial fish.
Troopers say a fifth vessel was used to illegally transport some of the fish.
Charged in Homer District Court were:
— Eric Winslow, 61 of Homer, with driving salmon, failure to provide information to a fish transporter, and failure to display vessel license numbers.
— Paul Roth, 35 of Homer, with driving salmon, commercial fishing in closed waters, and failure to provide information to the fish transporter.
— Robert Roth, 39 of Anchor Point, with failure to obtain a fish transporter permit, failure to complete fish tickets, and unlawful possession of commercial fish.
— Mark Roth, 64 of Homer, with driving salmon, failure to complete a fish ticket, and failure to display vessel license numbers.