Two Illinois men cited for unlicensed crewmember violations in Naknek-Kvichak Bay

Two Illinois men face commercial fishing licensing charges after Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited them in Naknek-Kvichak Bay on July 12 during the Bristol Bay Salmon Enforcement Program. The citations came on the same day new Board of Fisheries regulations took effect across all Bristol Bay salmon fishing districts. Any charges reported are merely accusations, and both men are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The troopers cited Eric Emil Osuch, 26, of Vernon Hills, and Luis Felipe Gomez, 34, of Carpentersville, on charges of Employ Unlicensed Crewmember and Crewmember License Required, with bail set at $250 for both violations. The crewmember license requirement applies to anyone who participates in the commercial harvest of salmon in Alaska, according to the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association: "Anyone who helps with the commercial harvest of salmon in Alaska, needs to have a crew member license." Out-of-state crew pay $252 for that license; Alaska residents pay $60.