Latest news with #WashingtonDepartmentofFishandWildlifePolice
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alaska man sentenced to one year in prison over illegal transport of crab to Washington
Law enforcement officers examine a load of Alaska crab, much of it infested with Bitter Crab Syndrome, after it arrived in Washington state in 2024. (Photo provided by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police) A Kodiak fisher has been sentenced to spend a year in jail for illegally shipping thousands of pounds of tanner crab, much of it infected with a parasitic disease, out of Alaska to Washington state, federal officials said. The fisherman, Corey Potter, was also sentenced to two years' supervised release following his jail term, during which he will be barred from commercial fishing anywhere in the world, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. The investigation was led by NOAA Fisheries' Office of Law Enforcement. The sentence was imposed on May 13 by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Burgess in Anchorage. The case concerns tanner and Golden king crab harvested in 2024 in Southeast Alaska. Potter owned two vessels, one of them captained by his son, Kyle Potter, and the other by employee Justin Welch. Rather than unload the crab catch in Alaska, as is required by state law, the three men kept the live crab in the vessels and took the catch to Washington state, passing through Canadian waters along the way. The motivation was to fetch higher prices for their catch, according to prosecutors' documents. At the time, according to evidence presented in court documents, the men knew that a large proportion of the catch was infested with Bitter Crab Syndrome, a parasitic disease that usually kills the crabs and renders their meat inedible. Bitter Crab Syndrome is not toxic for people, but infected crab meat can be bitter and eating it is likened to chewing on aspirin. That evidence included text messages from other Alaska fishers who cautioned Potter and his son against bringing infested crab to market, with one expressing concerns that their actions would hurt the reputation and marketability of all Alaska crab. Bitter Crab Syndrome affects numerous species, and it is considered a possible contributor to the crash of Bering Sea snow crab and king crab stocks that led to an unprecedented string of harvest closures between 2021 and 2024. The main reason for the stock crashes, scientists believe, was the warmth in the habitat, which led to crab starvation. In the years leading up to the fishery closures, however, there was an increase in Bitter Crab Syndrome. The disease is linked to warming waters and climate change, according to scientists from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Kyle Potter and Welch pleaded guilty last year. In October, Kyle Potter was sentenced to five years' probation and ordered to pay a $20,000 fine; Welch was sentenced to three years' probation and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. Ultimately, the loads of crab they delivered never made it to any market. They were seized by Washington state law enforcement officers and deemed unfit for sale or consumption. Of the Golden king crab, 42% of the catch was dead upon arrival; of the tanner crab, so much was infested that the entire load was disposed of in a landfill, federal officials said. Potter pleaded guilty in February to two counts of violating the Lacey Act, the federal law that concerns transport of wildlife and fish across state lines. Prosecutors identified him as the leader of the scheme and therefore requested heavier penalties. Potter, in a presentencing memorandum, asked for probation rather than jail time, arguing that his long career of fishing in Alaska has now ended and that at the age of 64, he is now financially ruined. 'As a result of last year's terrible crabbing season, which included the instant offense conduct, he has been financially destroyed. One of the boats involved in this offense was foreclosed on, and the other is believed to have been seized by the state. He has been reduced to relying upon family for assistance and has no viable means to support himself,' the May 6 defense memo said. But prosecutors, who argued for 18 months imprisonment, said actions with the diseased crab fit Potter's yearslong pattern of sloppy maintenance and unsafe behavior. In their presentencing report, also filed on May 6, prosecutors listed numerous past problems with the vessels Potter owned. They have been cited for chronically leaking oil, broken down at sea – requiring crew members to be rescued – and sunk in different sites, the report said. 'The defendant's track record as a vessel operator in Alaska is abysmal. He has shown a total disregard for the safety of his crew, the safety of Alaskan waterways, and the health of the marine environment,' the prosecutors' presentencing report said. Yet to be determined is the amount of restitution that Potter will be ordered to pay for the trafficked crab. The government is seeking $187,187 in restitution. A hearing on that subject is set for July 15. This article was first published by Alaska Beacon, part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alaska Beacon maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Andrew Kitchenman for questions: info@
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Homeowner hears scratching noises for days, then workers discover surprising creatures
A homeowner heard scratching noises for days in their Washington home before workers made a surprising discovery. Three barn owls had gotten trapped behind a fireplace insert and in a chimney in Moxee, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police said in a March 21 Facebook post. Sgt. Schroeder and fireplace technicians responded to the Yakima County home Jan. 22. The workers found one bird and removed the fireplace insert. A second barn owl was discovered, but wildlife officials said the scratching noises continued. 'A third barn owl was still trapped in the chimney above the fireplace dampers,' officials said. That owl was also removed, and all three animals were taken to a wildlife rehabilitator. It's likely they went into the chimney to find shelter or make a nest, officials told McClatchy News. Moxee is a less than 10-mile drive southeast from Yakima. Smoky-winged hunter — with dramatic behavior — discovered in Iran. See new species 'Flourishing' deep-sea life found when Antarctic iceberg breaks off. 'Untouched beauty' Deep-sea camera films first-ever video of poorly known shark off Timor-Leste. See it
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Locals stunned by gutting scene discovered at beloved hiking spot: 'I hope they figure out who is responsible and make them pay'
In Washington, visitors of Puyallup Fish Hatchery and lovers of its nearby scenic trail have continued to find nature vandalization affecting their area over the past year, as reported by the News Tribune. So far, vandals have killed or damaged 10 trees, as reported by Jason Smith, manager of the Puyallup Hatchery, per the News Tribune. Of these trees, some are between 50 and 200 years old and have cost over $6,000 to remove, as well as adding unsafe conditions to the popular hiking spot. According to a Facebook post by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police on the public safety concern of the issue, "One 200-year-old Douglas fir was cut 3/4 of the way through and left ready to fall." "People don't think about that," Smith said, per KIRO 7. "If they're out playing around, you know, you get a little wind pick up, and there's anyone on the trail, it would crush somebody and kill them instantly." The issue of nature vandalization is pressing, as shown by recent examples of the egregious act. Just last June, a group harmed or destroyed more than 50 trees in Newbold Comyn in Warwickshire, England, following over 75 trees being devastated in a South Dublin park last April. The Puyallup Hatchery, the recent victim of these crimes, is more than just a place plentiful with salmon and trout — the hatchery is deeply committed to public and environmental good. The establishment has an educational center staffed by volunteers on Saturdays and also partners with the local school district to bring in classes of fourth-grade STEM students. According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police, the students are taught about fish lifestyle and migration patterns, science lessons, and the "human impact on our environment." It seems that nature vandals, not just the ones causing harm at Puyallup, could take a lesson out of the fourth-graders' ever more relevant curriculum. It is difficult to understand the intention behind environmental harm. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. One commenter on the News Tribune's article stated, "This is sad, and so senseless. I hope they figure out who is responsible and make them pay for the damages." Another commented, "I just wonder why someone would cut them to start with? You can't just carry a big tree home with you." While to some people, ecological respect is second nature, to others, it must be taught. Climate awareness begins with courtesy toward the outdoors. A good rule to follow that most national and state parks advertise is that while you are admiring this remarkable natural world, be sure to leave no trace. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Yahoo
Washington man arrested for stealing $8M fishing boat with crew still on board, officials say
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A 42-year-old man from Aberdeen, Wash. is being held on $250,000 bail, after he allegedly stole an 80-foot, $8 million commercial fishing boat out of Westport on Feb. 8 with the crew still on board. Suspect Joshua Stedman boarded the Jamie Marie around 9 a.m. and temporarily convinced the crew that he was the boat's new captain, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police said. 'A subject had boarded the vessel, woke the crew and advised them they needed to get underway,' the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police wrote on social media. 'The newer crew did not know the captain, but didn't argue, thinking he was an alternate operator, or someone sent by the real captain. He surely acted the part as he knew how to start and operate the large vessel.' Floating shanty visible from I-205 removed from the Columbia River After a short while, the crew grew suspicious of Stedman's behavior and called the boat's actual captain from the bridge. After speaking with the captain, they determined they were on a stolen boat. 'As the vessel transited further out and onto the Grays Harbor bar about to cross into the ocean, the crew finally figured out something was wrong,' WDFD wrote. 'The subject driving the boat was talking about meeting the 'Chinese Mothership' and was not making sense. He certainly was not describing fishing activity.' Logo featured in Pixar, Disney+ series appears to resemble Portland Pickles WDFW Police and the Westport Police Department responded to the scene and Stedman returned the boat to the harbor at about 9:30 a.m.. Upon his arrest, Stedman was found in possession of $4,000 in cash and a 'large quantity of individually weighed and packaged marijuana,' WDFD Police said. Westport Police arrested Stedman and brought him to the Gray Harbor County Jail. Stedman was charged with theft, vehicle prowling, possession of stolen property and illegal drug possession. 'As the investigation played out, it was learned the same subject boarded another large vessel in the early morning hours and managed to start the main engines and was attempting to rally the crew for a trip to sea,' WDFW Police said. 'They ran him off the boat but did not report the activity until the current theft was playing out and the information was circling Westport.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Yahoo
Vandals take chainsaws to 200-year-old trees in Puyallup along popular trail, WDFW says
Police are seeking more information about vandalism at the Puyallup Fish Hatchery, which they say is putting the safety of visitors and a beloved trail system at risk. According to a Facebook post yesterday from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police, vandals have used chainsaws and axes on many trees, including some that are between 50 and 200 years old. That's killed some trees and damaged others. These incidents have been happening over the past year, and WDFW says it costs over $6,000 to remove the trees and that it makes the area unsafe. 'One 200-year-old Douglas fir was cut 3/4 of the way through and left ready to fall,' the post said. Police say that if the vandalism keeps happening, they may have to close the Clarks Creek Loop trail system to the public. Fourth graders from the Puyallup School District visit the hatchery to observe the thousands of salmon that swim through Clarks Creek every year. Residents with information about the vandalism can call WDFW at 877-933-9847, text WDFWTIP to 847411 or fill out their online reporting form. Further information wasn't immediately available. Check back for updates.
