Quote:
Originally Posted by BasicPatrick
“Catch seizures are an excellent enforcement tool in serious cases like this,” said DeCola. “They minimize the financial incentive for fisherman who intentionally violate the rules. They maintain a level playing field for the industry as a whole.”
|
If you recreational fish up in NH or Maine without a license and get caught, you're very likely to lose all of your gear and get a pretty hefty fine - not to mention a likely suspension of your license for a couple years.
That is something that would be an "excellent enforcement tool in serious cases like this." I'm growing rather sick and tired of the little guy getting beaten around, while the large commercial fishing operations receive what amounts to a slap on the wrist when you consider the severity of their violations.
You want to drastically reduce illegal fishing:
1) First infraction results in seizure of your catch and fine equal to double the market value of that catch. (IE: you have $50,000 worth of illegal fish on your boat, you lose your fish and pay a $100k fine.)
2) Second infraction results in a 5x fine and two year suspended license.
3) Third infraction, you lose the boat, the gear and indefinite suspension of your license.
Three Strikes and you're done. Period.
However, the fines and asset seizures *do not* go directly to NOAA's coffers. 90% of proceeds go towards research and habitat rebuilding efforts.
Threaded Mode