Decision  In the Matter of Paul Tasha and Coastal Commercial Lobster Permit No. 2284 Including All Regulated Fishery Permit Endorsements

Date:	01/23/2015
Organization:	Division of Marine Fisheries
Docket Number:	CCLP-2284-13-DM

• Petitioner: Daniel McKiernan, Agency Representative
• Respondent: Paul Tasha
• Appearance for Respondent: Stephen Ouellette, Esq
• Presiding Officer: David C. Hoover

Matter addressed violations of protected species regulations designed to protect endangered right whales, lobster conservation and management regulations, and reporting requirements. This included: (1) maintaining single buoyed traps in the Right Whale Critical Habitat Area; (2) fishing buoy lines affixed to trap gear without a compliant weak link at the buoy; (3) fishing buoy lines affixed to trap gear without compliant buoy line markings; (4) fishing with lobster trap gear in the Outer Cape Cod Lobster Management Areas during its seasonal closure; (5) fishing lobster traps with non-compliant sized escape vents; (6) and submitting incomplete or falsified catch reports. The Final Agency Action resulted in the revocation on Tasha's lobster trap allocation and authorization to take lobsters using trap gear. Tasha was authorized to retain his Commercial Coastal Lobster Permit to take lobsters by diving only. 

Key Terms: Protected species; Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan; Right Whale Critical Habitat Area; abandoned gear; single traps; weak-links; buoy line marking; trap tags; lobster trap escape vents; catch reports.