Five commercial fishers cited in single-day Bristol Bay closed-water sweep

Five commercial fishers were cited in a single day during the Bristol Bay sockeye run under the Bristol Bay Salmon Enforcement Program. Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited all five on July 15 in three separate incidents near Naknek and Naknek-Kvichak Bay.

In the first incident, two Homer fishers were cited for commercial fishing in closed waters in Naknek. In the second, a Seaside, California, fisher was cited for the same offense in Naknek-Kvichak Bay. In the third, two more fishers, one from Santa Barbara, California, and one from Tempe, Arizona, were cited for commercial fishing in closed waters in Naknek. The charges are accusations. All five defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

An earlier Alaska News article published July 15 covered 11 citations issued between June 27 and July 10 under the same program, with violations ranging from closed-water fishing to unlicensed crewmembers and gear-marking infractions. The five citations from July 15 are separate from that count.

All five defendants are scheduled for arraignment at Naknek District Court on Aug. 5.