Local news report revealed that total fines of $100,000 has issued around May 5 to three restaurants and seven individuals for the alleged illegal sale or purchase of Atlantic bluefin tuna. It is said that the fines, issued as civil infractions, stem from a two-year investigation by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement regarding fishers in the Ogunquit area who allegedly sold tuna to businesses that did not have Atlantic Tunas Dealer permits.
Special Agent Chris Schoppmeyer of the NOAA Fisheries Service, who was an investigator in the case, informed that businesses, in turn, were fined for purchasing tuna without dealer permits. Some of the accused said that they thought investigators were seeking out fishermen to fine during the investigation, not businesses. Jeff Porter, vice president and general manager of Five-O Shore Road Restaurant— one of the businesses cited in violation by federal authorities, opined that if they cooperated fully with the investigation that we would not receive a fine.
It is told that the individuals issued fines related to the sale of bluefin tuna, Schoppmeyer said, are: William McIntire, of Cape Neddick, $15,000; Glenn Perkins, of Cape Neddick, $15,000; and Michael Lorusso, of Wells $10,000. Businesses and other individuals issued fines related to the purchase of bluefin tuna, are: Jackie’s Too Restaurant, Ogunquit, $10,000, Five-O Shore Road Restaurant, Ogunquit, $10,000; Angelina’s Ristorante, Ogunquit, $5,000; executive chef of Jackie’s Too, Peter Bevins, of Cape Neddick, $10,000; executive chef of Five-O, Zachary Crosby, of Ogunquit, $15,000; executive chef and owner of Angelina’s Ristorante, David Giarusso Jr., of Ogunquit, $5,000; and Wayne Wescott of Cape Neddick, owner of the Front Porch Café, $5,000.
Jackie Bevins, owner of Jackie’s Too and a member of the Ogunquit Select Board, agreed investigators had been misleading. Juliand, the prosecuting attorney in the investigation, said fishers get permit holder letters in the mail and he would be surprised if they didn’t know the laws. Schoppmeyer said that some fishermen have resorted to selling fish illegally because of the number of eligible-sized tuna has decreased and because of the high value of that fish specifically.
