May 24, 2013
The Coast Guard said a fishing trawler was seized earlier this week.
The action was taken after authorities said about 1,300 pounds of fish had been illegally caught in a spawning area closed to bottom fishing 35 miles southwest of Cape San Blas in the Florida Panhandle.
Crew members from the cutter Stingray of Mobile, boarded The Shadow on Tuesday and then escorted the 44-foot long-line vessel to Panama City.
The catch of grouper, orange roughy, tile fish and hake then was sold on behalf of the U.S. Commerce Department.
The boat's master was cited for fisheries and safety violations. An administrative law judge will determine the amount of the fine.
