Fishermen Nabbed For Illegally Catching Tuna: DEC

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — Two fishermen were nabbed for illegally catching tuna earlier this month in Hampton Bays, officials said.

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Officer McGhee observed the two individuals unloading tuna from a recreational sport fishing boat docked at a marina.

The officer approached spoke to the individual on the vessel, who said he worked for the boat’s owner and was unloading the fish to sell to a seafood company, the DEC said.

The vessel did not have the required highly migratory species permit to lawfully sell the catch commercially, and was missing other federal fisheries permits, the DEC said. Officer McGhee referred the violations to the National Marine Fisheries Service for prosecution, the DEC added.