For More Information, Please Contact Colonel Tom Santaguida, 207-287-2766
Illegal Fish Convictions Net Heavy Fines: Maine Game Wardens and Federal Agents Fight Illegal Fish Trade
AUGUSTA, Maine -- Invasive fish species, illegal stocking and the illegal buying and selling of fish species in Maine is a real threat to the quality of Maine's freshwater fisheries. In an effort to stop growing problems in this area, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has focused some of its enforcement activities on this problem.
During the past year, the Investigations Division of the Bureau of Warden Service, working closely with Department fishery biologists and United States Fish and Wildlife Service law enforcement officers as well as those of other states has arrested and convicted a number of individuals involved in this illegal activity.
Effective, professional conservation law enforcement operations are an important component to safeguarding Maine's inland fisheries. Just as important are public information and education efforts by our Bureau of Resource Management and our Division of Information and Education, literature and publications and our Outdoor Partner's Program.
Some of the highlights of the past year's law enforcement efforts include:
* Conviction of Paul Yang doing business as Wah Yang Seafood of New York City, New York. He was convicted of (1) felony violation of the federal Lacey Act.. He received a $2,100 fine and one year probation for illegally buying and selling freshwater game fish; * Conviction of David Fitz of Cumberland, Maine paid a $2,025 fine and $6,500 restitution to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for illegally stocking largemouth bass in a pond in Maine; * Conviction of Bernard Mason of Cornish, Maine who paid a $2,500 fine for (1) felony Lacey Act violation for illegally buying, selling and importing fish;
* The most significant investigation lead to the arrest and conviction of Paul Zombik and a business entity by the name of Michael's Wholesale Bait of West Springfield, Massachusetts. This investigation led to the conviction of Paul Zombik who was convicted of three (3) felony violations of the Lacey Act. He was sentenced to 6 months incarceration and 2 years supervised release. Mr. Zombik's company, Michael's Wholesale Bait of West Springfield, Massachusetts was fined sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) for one felony violation of the Lacey Act. An employee of the company, Donald MacLeod, also pleaded guilty to (1) felony Lacey Act violation and was fined $200.00.
The Lacey Act is a federal offense, which makes it illegal to, among other things, engage in interstate commerce of fish, and wildlife that has been taken, possessed, transported, purchased or sold in violation of state law.
Zombik also pleaded guilty to buying live freshwater Maine game fish including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white and yellow perch, crappie, bluegill and alewives that had been taken live from Maine waters.
These sentencings mark the conclusion of several long-term investigations, some of which began in 2000.
Maine has the most stringent fish health regulations in the United States in order to protect its sensitive ecosystems and relatively pristine fisheries, which contain many indigenous brook trout populations. Exotic fish, diseases and parasites threaten these ecosystems and associated fisheries. The illegal stocking of fish plagues Maine waters. "The illegal introduction of fish into Maine waters is clearly the most significant threat to the preservation of Maine's native fisheries. Many of our finest trout waters have been jeopardized in recent years, but I'm hopeful that the severity of the sentences handed down in this investigation will help to discourage any future illegal activity", says John Boland, Director of Maine's Fisheries Division. For example, northern pike have been introduced into Sebago Lake and may result in the destruction of populations of native salmon and trout, which constitute economically important fisheries. Even though an introduction may occur in a single body of water, the introduced species can rapidly infest an entire drainage, ruining it forever.
Colonel Thomas Santaguida, Chief of the Maine Warden Service cited excellent joint cooperation between Maine Game Wardens and agents and supervisors of the United States Fish and Wildlife as the key to the successful investigations. "Clearly, the combination of state and federal resources resulted in an outcome far beyond what the state could have achieved alone. In addition to the excellent work of our own wardens, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has been a great partner agency in assisting the state of Maine in efforts to thwart the illegal stocking, selling and marketing of freshwater fish. I am confident that these convictions will deter future illegal fish stocking activity and send a strong message to those who might consider this illegal behavior." Colonel Santaguida also expressed appreciation to the United States Attorney Paula Silsby and the staff of the United States Attorney's Office for their hard work in prosecuting these cases. "Assistant United States Attorney Halsey Frank and the staff at the US Attorney's office in Portland, Maine were extremely supportive of the investigations and without their support the outcome would not have been successful."
The Maine Warden Service Investigations Division led the investigation phase of the case. Investigator Sergeant Terrence Hunter states that this success was in no small way, the result of the investigative work conducted by recently retired Investigator Albert St. Saviour. Sergeant Hunter also stated "In response to numerous complaints regarding this illegal activity, Investigator St. Saviour - working closely with the USFWS was able to crack these cases and prevent future damage by these individuals to our ecosystems and fisheries resources.
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