Several commercial fishermen from New England have been given sentences as part of a fraud scheme related to Atlantic herring, an essential bait fish species, in a case described by prosecutors as intricate and widespread.
The individuals were sentenced for intentionally bypassing commercial fishing reporting rules concerning Atlantic herring, stated prosecutors. Involved in the scheme were owners, captains, and crew members of the Western Sea vessel, operating from Maine.
Glenn Robbins, the owner of the Western Sea, admitted in March to providing false information to the federal government about Atlantic herring catch and sales, as well as failing to pay taxes, prosecutors added. Crew members of the vessel colluded to submit inaccurate trip reports to the government between 2016 and 2019, according to court documents. The charges are considered misdemeanors.
Robbins was put on two years of probation and imposed a $9,500 fine during sentencing last Thursday. Federal prosecutor Darcie McElwee emphasized that the false reports endangered a species crucial for commercial lobster bait.
McElwee stated, “The defendants in this case broke the rules solely to benefit themselves – rules put in place to protect Atlantic herring from overfishing, ensure availability for future fishermen, and safeguard the marine ecosystem.”
Robbins, reached by phone on Monday, expressed that despite his guilty plea, he does not view himself as guilty and opted for a plea agreement due to the uncertainties of a trial by jury.
Last week, a part-time captain and three crew members received comparable sentences after pleading guilty in March. Four other defendants had been sentenced earlier in the year with similar penalties. All involved in the case are from Maine or New Hampshire.
Federal regulations mandate fishermen to report trip details such as the species caught, catch weight, and the fish buyers. Atlantic herring plays a critical role in the food chain, consumed by marine mammals, larger fish, and seabirds. Concerns regarding the sustainability of the Atlantic herring population have been raised by fishing management in recent times.