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Netting Update
Saw this on another site:
Source: http://www.dailypress.net/page/conte....html?nav=5003
ESCANABA - Charges are being sought against six men, allegedly involved in illegal commercial fishing operations on Little Bay de Noc, said an official involved in the case.
Officials from the Department of Natural Resources will be meeting next week with the prosecutor from the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa Tribe to decide what charges will be pursued against five of the six suspects who are tribal members, said DNR Cpl. Shannon VanPatten from the Escanaba office.
"I suspect charges will be issued shortly after that meeting," she said. Following additional investigation, charges against the sixth suspect will be sought through the county court though no report has yet been submitted to the county prosecutor, she said.
None of the six have been identified.
According to VanPatten, the DNR is required in seeking charges against five of the six suspects in Sault Ste. Marie Tribal Court as they are members of the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa Tribe of Chippewa Indians. The five tribal members claimed to have been fishing in the bay under the 1836 treaty rights.
She will be meeting with tribal prosecuting attorney Eric Bluebaugh later next week to discuss possible charges.
Charges against the sixth suspect are being sought in Delta County, as that person are not a tribal member.
VanPatten, an officer with the Commercial Fish Enforcement Unit, first brought attention to the issue late last fall. She noticed an unusually high amount of walleye was being sold in the wholesale commercial fish market during the winter months the past few years.
The inconsistencies were discovered during a review of commercial fisheries records, she said, adding this is the largest illegal fishing operation she has investigated during her seven years in the enforcement unit, which covers the U.P.
"The wholesale dealers are required to report purchases from licensed fishermen," VanPatten explained. "A large amount of walleye was sold during the winter that was not consistent with previous years."
For the last couple years, DNR officials said they also suspected something unusual was affecting the fish population because of a drop in angler harvest, but they couldn't find a specific cause, she said.
When officials suspected walleye were being illegally sold through a licensed commercial fisherman, further investigation took place that included public input into the case and several hours of surveillance.
"We were watching different locations on the bay and residences, trying to figure out who was involved," VanPatten said.
Conservation officers jumped on the illegal operation as soon as the investigation made it possible, she said.
In late February, conservation officers seized 265 pounds of fish illegally harvested from the bay and 1,200 feet in gill nets.
The illegal commercial fishing operation in January and February, involves a "significant amount" of fish, VanPatten added. "We feel it's just under 22,000 pounds."
VanPatten said, ever since the case went public earlier this month, there's been a great deal of community support for the DNR's efforts. Though a lot of anglers are upset with the loss of fish in the bay, some said they are glad something is being done, she said.
"They have a vested interest in this resource," she said. "We're out there to protect the resources."
Earlier this month, DNR officials met with a local walleye club, providing them with some basic background on the case, VanPatten said.
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The DNR has to play this one pretty carefully. If these guys that did this crap get off with hardly no punishment, the DNR will really lose face with the sportsman. But, if these guys get hammered on by the courts and/or tribal council, the DNR will look like heroes. I for one am more than happy to be a fan of the DNR as long as these guys get some tyrone time in the big house. .
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netting
I bet you these guys will end up getting in less trouble than you or I would with a 14 3/4" walleye. The DNR are never going to be heroes.
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It'll be interesting to see what the non-tribal member gets through the state compared to the tribal members through the tribe.
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