Anchorage, Alaska – United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that Arne Fuglvog
was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage to five months incarceration on his conviction of falsely
reporting the location where he caught fish as part of the individual fishing quota program in violation of
the Federal Lacey Act. Fuglvog was also required to publish a public apology in the National Fisherman’s
magazine, pay a $50,000 fine and make a $100,000 community service payment that will fund grants to
support fish habitat in the coastal areas of the Gulf of Alaska.
On February 7, 2012, Arne Fuglvog, 48, of Petersburg, Alaska was sentenced by United States
District Court Judge Russell Holland.
According to Assistant United States Attorney Aunnie Steward who prosecuted the case, the facts
supporting his conviction are as follows:
From 2001 to 2006, Arne Fuglvog was the owner and operator of the Fishing Vessel (F/V)
Kamilar. Fuglvog had permits to fish in the Gulf of Alaska for sablefish and halibut. Management of
these fisheries depends on accurate and truthful reporting by fisherman regarding how many fish were
caught and in what location. On several occasions between 2001 and 2006, Fuglvog fished in one area
and falsely reported that he had caught both sablefish and halibut in areas other than where he caught the
fish.
Specific to the year 2005, Fuglvog had an Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) permit for sable fish in
the area designated as “Western Yakatat.” Fuglvog’s permit allowed him to catch approximately 30,000
pounds of sablefish in the Western Yakatat area in 2005. Fuglvog actually caught approximately 63,000
pounds of sablefish in the Western Yakatat area in 2005. Fuglvog covered up his illegal fishing by
submitting false statements on several trips in 2005 falsely stating that he caught over 30,000 pounds of
sablefish in the area designated as “Central Gulf,” when in fact the fish that were caught in the Western
Yakatat area. The approximate value of the fish that Fuglvog illegally caught and falsely reported was
approximately $100,000. These violations occurred at a time when Fuglvog had a seat on the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council, the body that oversees management of ground fish in Alaska.
At sentencing Judge Holland noted that this was a particularly serious offense because Fuglvog
was a public official with responsibilities for managing the fishery at the same time he was violating the
laws of that fishery.
The investigation was conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA)
Office of Law Enforcement (OLE), Alaska Division, after receiving information from an anonymous
source. The investigation took a great deal of time and effort under extremely sensitive conditions.
NOAA OLE officials stated, "We always take these cases seriously, and our goal is to support sustainable
fisheries through effective compliance and enforcement."
Ms. Loeffler commended NOAA OLE for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution
of Fuglvog.

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