FWC Division of Law Enforcement Operations Weekly Activities NW June 3-9 2011

FWC DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

FIELD OPERATIONS

WEEKLY REPORT

June 3 - 9, 2011

 

This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.

 

NORTHWEST REGION

 

OKALOOSA COUNTY

 

FWC officers partnered with the U.S. Coast Guard Stations Destin and Pensacola, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco Agents, Department of Environmental Protection, and Okaloosa County Emergency Medical Services in response to the annual Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival near Ft. Walton Beach, Pensacola and Panama City.  The high profile patrols were used to interdict disturbances and discourage careless/reckless vessel operation, and Boating Under the Influence (BUI) and enhance public safety.  During the event, 786 vessels were inspected and 2,458 users checked.  The officers responded to two vessel crashes, 72 calls for service, and 33 medical emergencies, five of which required advanced care.  Officers made 21 arrests for BUI and 10 other arrests including disorderly intoxication and aggravated battery.  Special agents with Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco addressed several instances of underage drinking.

 

Officer Matt Webb was on water patrol conducting boating safety inspections and state/joint enforcement agreement (JEA) fisheries enforcement near the Destin Pass when he observed a 26‑foot and a 24‑foot vessel returning from the Gulf of Mexico.  During the boating safety equipment inspections, Officer Webb determined both vessels were returning from fishing and asked the operators what they caught.  Both advised they caught amberjack.  Undersized greater amberjack, measuring 28 inches, were found onboard both vessels. The size limit for greater amberjack is 30 inches for the Gulf of Mexico and the closed season is June 1 through July 31.  Officer Webb educated the operators and passengers of the closed season for greater amberjack, as well as the size limits.  Both operators were cited for the possession of undersized greater amberjack and issued written warnings for the closed season violations.

 

Officers Pete Rockwell and Sulin Schafer were on water patrol conducting JEA enforcement in Gulf of Mexico federal waters when they observed a 24‑foot inshore charter boat anchored and actively fishing approximately 16 nautical miles south of the Pensacola Pass.  Upon contact with the vessel operator, Officer Rockwell determined the fishing trip was a paid charter.  The fisheries inspection revealed harvested red snapper.  The operator provided a six‑pack state vessel charter license, but could not provide a federal reef fish permit.  The operator was cited for a federal permit violation.

 

Officer Matt Webb was on foot patrol conducting state fisheries inspections on the Okaloosa Island fishing pier when he observed two individuals actively fishing.  Through conversation, Officer Webb determined they had caught bluefish.  The fisheries inspection revealed 23 harvested bluefish.  Both individuals were cited for possession of over the bag limit of bluefish.  The daily bag limit for bluefish is 10 per person per day.

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