On Monday, April 6, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL-751) seized approximately 5.4 metric tons of Pollock roe, worth about $65,000, from Northern Eagle, which is owned and operated by American Seafoods. The seizure took place near Dutch Harbor, AK.
The press release from the U.S. Coast Guard claims Northern Eagle underreported its catch, a major violation of federal fishing regulations. The seizure “was initiated based on reasonable suspicion of a significant Living Marine Resources (LMR) violation, following a pre-boarding audit by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement (OLE), which revealed major discrepancies between the vessel’s production reports and electronic logbook.”
An investigation confirmed that the vessel reported less catch in its logbook than the vessel’s reported production weight. The investigation also found evidence of a previous violation indicating the underreporting and offload of approximately 12.4 metric tons of pollock roe, valued at an approximately $150,000.
The seizure of the unreported product was authorized by Rear Admiral Bob Little, the Coast Guard Arctic District commander. The seized pollock roe is now secured in a cold storage facility at Dutch Harbor.
The next day, April 7, American Seafoods published a response denying any violation of fishing regulations. American Seafoods posits that the Coast Guard inaccurately alleged that Northern Eagle underreported its catch. Instead, “the seizure of 241 cases of frozen pollock roe, out of a total of more than 72,000 total cases of product, is based on differences between daily production estimates and final production reports, which have, unfortunately, been mischaracterized as a regulatory violation.
American Seafoods claims, “The discrepancy at the center of this issue exists because the regulatory agency has inaccurately applied an antiquated equation for determining estimated production totals… It is an issue with the method used to calculate daily production estimates.”
“We strongly reject any narrative that portrays a discrepancy in daily estimated production as an intentional breach of conservation measures that protect our fishery,” said Inge Andreassen, President of American Seafoods.
Waesche Captain Tyson Scofield commented: “The integrity of fisheries data is paramount for the sustainability of our nation’s living marine resources. This seizure highlights the Coast Guard’s commitment to enforcing federal law with our partner agencies to ensure a level playing field for all fishermen who follow the rules. I am extremely proud of the Waesche crew’s dedication and perseverance to complete this multi-day operation.”
The Coast Guard intends to work with NOAA Fisheries OLE to further investigate the issue and potentially pursue prosecution.
