DEC Environmental Conservation Officers Discover Commercial Fishing Vessel in Possession of Summer Flounder, Five Times Over Daily Limit

LongIsland.com

ECOs Jordan Doroski and Kevin Holzle got an early morning start to Montauk in order to meet up with U.S. Coast Guard Station Montauk personnel for a joint boat patrol.

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ECO Holzle documenting illegally possessed summer flounder.

Photo by: NYS DEC.

Montauk, NY - September 14, 2016 - On August 28, ECOs Jordan Doroski and Kevin Holzle got an early morning start to Montauk in order to meet up with U.S. Coast Guard Station Montauk personnel for a joint boat patrol. One particular commercial fishing vessel caught their attention as the ECOs prepared to head out onto the water. The boat appeared to be making its way in with the day's catch by 8:15 in the morning.

ECOs Doroski and Holzle met the boat at the offloading dock and found the fisherman to be in possession of 358.9 pounds of summer flounder, over five times his daily limit. The fisherman also had not completed his vessel trip report (VTR) prior to landing.

The ECOs documented the violations and issued appearance tickets for the overage and a summons for failing to complete the VRT. Fair market value of the overage was nearly $1,000, making it a misdemeanor level crime of illegal commercialization.