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Murkowski aide admits violating fisheries law

August 2nd 8:25 pm | Margaret Bauman Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

Arne Fuglvog, a top fisheries aide to Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has agreed to plead guilty to a violation of a federal law combating illegal trafficking in fisheries, and now faces incarceration and fines totaling $150,000.

The plea agreement reached between Fuglvog and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Anchorage recommends a sentence of 10 months, a fine of $50,000 and a community service payment of $100,000, to be made to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for enhancement of fisheries habitat in coastal areas of the Gulf of Alaska.

Fuglvog agreed to plead guilty to a violation of the Lacey Act, which also combats illegal trafficking in wildlife and plants, and waved trial rights, according to documents dated Aug. 1 by U.S. Attorney Karen Loeffler.

Murkowski said that she accepted Fuglvog's resignation on July 31.

The plea deal made available by the U.S. District Attorney's office in Anchorage said that Fuglvog agreed to waive all rights to appeal the conviction and sentence imposed under the agreement.

From 2001 to 2006, Fuglvog was the owner and operator of the fishing vessel Kamilar and had permits to fish in the Gulf of Alaska for sablefish and halibut. On several occasions between 2001 and 2006, Fuglvog fished in one regulatory area and then falsely reported that the fish were caught in a different regulatory area, according to court documents.

Specifically, in 2005, Fuglvog had an individual fishing quota permit for sablefish in the statistical area designated as Western Yakatat, allowing him to catch approximately 30,000 pounds of sablefish in the Western Yakatat area in 2005. Fuglvog actually caught approximately 63,000 pounds of sablefish in the Western Yakatat area in that year, and covered up his illegal fishing by submitting false statements when he landed the fish, indicating that over 30,000 pounds of sablefish were caught in the statistical area designated as Central Gulf, when in fact the fish were caught in the Western Yakatat area, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

The fish that Fuglvog falsified the landing reports for regarding where they were caught, and valued at approximately $100,000, were then transported in interstate commerce.

Fuglvog, a fifth generation Petersburg fisherman, participated in salmon, crab, halibut and many other fisheries over more than three decades. He has served as president of the Petersburg Vessel Owners Association, on the advisory panel of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council for nine years and on the council itself from 2003 to 2006.

He was awarded the U.S. National Fisherman Highliner of the Year in 2003 and has also been honored as Fisherman of the Year by United Fishermen of Alaska.

In April of 2009, UFA recommended Fuglvog for appointment as assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries, a position that went to Eric C. Schwaab.

UFA declined comment on Fuglvog's current legal troubles.

 

Margaret Bauman can be reached at mbauman@alaskanewspapers.com, or by phone at 907-348-2438

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