A Kodiak fisherman, Corey Potter, was sentenced to a year in jail for illegally transporting thousands of pounds of tanner crab, much of which was infected with a parasitic disease, from Alaska to Washington state, federal officials reported.
This sentence was announced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which also stated that Potter would serve two years of supervised release following incarceration.
During this supervised release, he will be prohibited from engaging in any form of commercial fishing worldwide.
The investigation leading to this sentence was spearheaded by NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement and culminated on May 13 in a U.S. District Court in Anchorage, presided over by Judge Timothy Burgess.
The case revolves around the illegal harvesting of tanner and golden king crab from Southeast Alaska in 2024.
Corey Potter operated two vessels involved in this illegal activity, with one vessel captained by his son, Kyle Potter, and the other by employee Justin Welch.
Instead of adhering to state laws which require unloading crab catches in Alaska, the trio opted to retain the live crab on their vessels and illegally transport them to Washington state, traversing Canadian waters in the process.
Prosecutors indicated that their motivation was to secure higher prices for their catch.
Evidence presented during court proceedings revealed that Potter and his son were aware that a significant portion of their catch was afflicted with Bitter Crab Syndrome, a disease that typically kills crabs and makes their meat unfit for consumption.
Bitter Crab Syndrome, while not harmful to humans, results in crab meat that can taste bitter; eating it is often compared to chewing aspirin.
Text messages from other local fishermen warned Potter and his son against marketing the infected crab, and one experienced fisherman expressed anxiety that their illegal actions would negatively impact the reputation and marketability of Alaskan crab as a whole.
This parasitic disease affects multiple crab species and has been suggested as a contributing factor to the dramatic decline in Bering Sea snow crab and king crab stocks, which led to unprecedented harvest closures from 2021 to 2024.
Scientists attribute the primary cause of the population collapse to warmer waters that led to crab starvation, but there was also an observable rise in Bitter Crab Syndrome in the years preceding these closures.
Research indicates a connection between this disease and climate change, as noted by scientists from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Kyle Potter and Welch have already faced legal repercussions, with Kyle receiving a five-year probation sentence and a $20,000 fine, while Welch was given three years of probation alongside a $10,000 fine after pleading guilty last year.
In a significant turn of events, the crab loads they attempted to sell were confiscated by Washington state law enforcement.
Upon inspection, it was determined that a staggering 42% of the golden king crab was dead upon arrival, and the entire tanner crab load was so infested that it was disposed of in a landfill.
Corey Potter pleaded guilty in February to two counts of violating the Lacey Act, a federal statute regulating the transport of wildlife and fish across state borders.
He was identified as the ringleader of this operation, which prompted prosecutors to request more severe penalties.
In a presentencing memorandum, Potter pleaded for probation instead of incarceration, citing his 64 years of age and claiming his long career in Alaskan fishing had come to a screeching halt, leaving him in financial ruin.
According to Potter, last year’s disastrous crabbing season, combined with the offense conduct, led to his financial downfall.
One of his vessels faced foreclosure, and it is suspected that the other has been seized by state authorities.
He indicated that he had been forced to rely on family support to make ends meet, lacking any viable means of sustenance.
However, prosecutors contended that Potter’s handling of infected crab demonstrated a pattern of negligence and dangerous behavior.
Their presentencing report, filed on May 6, conveyed numerous past issues with Potter’s vessels, including persistent oil leaks, breakdowns that necessitated crew rescues at sea, and outright sinking incidents.
Prosecutors argued that Potter exhibited a complete disregard for the safety of both his crew and the health of Alaskan waterways.
The final monetary repercussions for Potter remain uncertain, as he awaits a hearing regarding restitution for the illegally transplanted crab.
The government is seeking $187,187 in restitution, with a court hearing set for July 15.
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