The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is receiving $400,000 from a court-ordered community service payment from Pacific Breeze Fisheries, for violations of illegally dumping oil from one its vessels.
The company which owns the F/V Pacific Breeze, pled guilty for illegally discharging oily bilge into the waters off American Samoa.
As a result, tons of oil sludge, waste oil and oily bilge water produced by the vessel remain unaccounted for. The company will pay a $1.6 million fine in addition to the community service payment of $400,000 to NMSF for the benefit of the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa (NMSAS).
Kris Sarri, President and CEO, of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation says, “The National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa protects extensive coral reefs, rare marine cultural resources and important fishing grounds.
“Illegal dumping is a serious threat to our oceans’ health and the species that call these waters home. This community service payment will help support the environmental restoration of corals and other critical marine habitat in the waters in and around the Sanctuary.”
