The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that Christopher R. Rowland, resident of Craig, Alaska, pleaded guilty in federal court to four charges of violations of the Lacey Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The charges referenced Mr. Rowlands involvement in the illegal take, transportation, and sale of sea otters.
Sea otters are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which allows only Alaska Natives to harvest the animals for subsistence purposes, providing that harvest is conducted in a non-wasteful manner. Mr. Rowland, who is not an Alaska Native, was involved in the illegal harvest of 56 sea otters, and in the illegal commercial sale of their pelts. Since the latter activity involved interstate shipping, two of the counts included in the guilty plea were violations of the Lacey Act.
The Fish and Wildlife Service led the investigation that resulted in the prosecution of Mr. Rowland. That investigation benefited significantly from the support of Alaska Wildlife Troopers, NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement, U. S. Forest Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Marshals Service, the State of Alaska Attorney Generals Office, the Alaska Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Enforcement, and the U. S. Attorneys Office.
Mike Miller, Board member of Indigenous Peoples Council on Marine Mammals (IPCoMM) and Chairman of the Sitka Marine Mammal Commission (SMMC), A Tribal Commission of The Sitka Tribe of Alaska, spoke to the guilty plea, saying, "Alaska Natives have been careful stewards of our marine mammal resources for many generations. When people kill sea otters illegally, it is an infringement upon the legal rights of qualified and conscientious Native subsistence hunters." Stanley Pruszenski, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Special Agent in Charge, agreed. "When a public resource is illegally exploited for commercial gain," he said, "both the public and the legal users of that resource--who in this case are Alaska Natives--suffer."
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
