Rafael’s own fishery complaints opened door to his downfall. Coast Guard report details extensive fishing violations
In January 2015, angered by cuts to his portion of federal groundfish disaster relief, Rafael publicly railed against the process and said he planned to sell his more than 40 vessels and the approximately 60 federal fishing permits attached to them. And with that, five federal law enforcement agencies saw their opening.,,, New Hampshire fisherman David Goethel, in the question-and-answer segment, complained that none of the fish dealers who participated in the scheme — particularly Rafael’s infamous New York dealer — were indicted. >click to read< 06:14
Coast Guard report details extensive fishing violations – “I can’t tell you how angry my fishing community is over this,” Marshfield fisherman Ed Barrett said. Barrett felt NOAA, the New England council and fishermen knew that Rafael was fishing illegally. Rafael had a long history of fishing violations and bragged openly about how he could beat the system, and yet Audyatis said the investigation that eventually caught him didn’t start until 2015. >click to read<
350 suspect trips out of 60,713 or 99.4% compliance. How many industries can say 99%. I doubt the recreational or charter/party boat fleet can say 90% compliance. How about the less than 40% compliance of the bluefin general category fishery or all the illegal recreational striped bass caught in the EEZ. 0.57% not even 1% is more important than other groups that can’t even get 50% compliance.
Or maybe we should look at the percentage of times Peter Shelly and other environmental groups distort the facts or out and out lie.