The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of General Counsel for Enforcement and Litigation has given the owner/operator of the fishing vessel Sea Hunter 30 days to request a hearing in front of an administrative law judge to contest charges resulting in a $17,500 fine and fishing sanctions.

In a joint effort by NOAA and Florida Fish and Wildlife enforcement, Thomas O’Driscoll of Newfoundland, Canada was charged last summer with possessing undersized swordfish, illegal gear, operating without a permit and failure to report swordfish catches, after being boarded off Fort Pierce. O’Driscoll was accused of connecting individual handlines to form an illegal longline.

The confiscated swordfish on board brought $827.

To report fishing violations in federal waters, contact the NOAA Fisheries Service Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964.