Bamasnapper

<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">NOAA Charges <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:State u2:st="on"><st1lace u2:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Florida</st1lace></st1:State></st1lace></st1:State> Dive Charter Businesses for Fishing Without Federal Permits<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = U1 /><U1:P></U1:P> <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><U1:P></U1:P>
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">NOAA has charged two dive business owners in <st1:City u2:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Pensacola</st1:City></st1:City>, <st1:State u2:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Fla.</st1:State></st1:State>, with illegally operating spearfishing charters without the appropriate permits in federal waters off the <st1:State u2:st="on"><st1lace u2:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Florida</st1lace></st1:State></st1lace></st1:State> panhandle.<U1:P></U1:P>
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NOAA and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission launched an investigation in summer 2007 after NOAA special agents in <st1:City u2:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Niceville</st1:City></st1:City>, <st1:State u2:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Fla.</st1:State></st1:State>, received several complaints about illegal spearfishing charters running out to the USS Oriskany artificial reef and other popular dive spots off <st1lace u2:st="on"><st1:State u2:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Florida</st1:State></st1lace></st1lace></st1:State>?s northern Gulf coast.<U1:P></U1:P>
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<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Undercover officers chartered trips on the vessel <SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Daisy D., owned and operated by Jeffery Michael Folds of Southern Offshore Adventures, and the <SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Y-Knot, owned and operated by David John Mucci of Blue Water Adventures. Folds was charged with three counts ? operating without a federal charter permit, prohibited use of a powerhead (a device with an explosive charge) to take reef fish, and making a false statement to law enforcement officials. <U1:P></U1:P>
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The proposed fine against Folds is $19,000. Mucci was charged with one count of operating without a federal charter permit and the proposed fine against him is $12,500.<U1:P></U1:P>
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<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Both men have 30 days from the date they received their notices of violations to request a hearing before an administrative law judge. Mucci received his notice on Nov. 7 and Folds on Nov.19.<U1:P></U1:P>
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<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">?It is important that spearfishing charter operators understand they need the same permits as any other fishing charter operating in federal waters,? said Allan Coker, NOAA special agent in Niceville. <U1:P></U1:P>
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<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Anyone with information involving illegal spearfishing charters should contact NOAA?s Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement national hotline at 1-800-853-1964. <U1:P></U1:P>
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<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit http://www.noaa.gov. <o></o><P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">###<U1:P></U1:P><o></o>

IanR

ouch

spearfisher

This is an extremely unfortunate event. I hate to see this happen to anyone, especially at Christmas time. Good luck to both Captains. This just goes to show that we all need to take these laws seriously no matter what type of boat your on. If you take money from people and take them fishing then you had better have the right permits.