Page 12 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch August 23, 2013 Feds Propose New Bluefin Regs Thief Must Pay $18K To Victims By SHAWN J. SOPER NEWS EDITOR OCEAN CITY – Federal fisheries officials this week opened the public comment period on a series of recommendations aimed at further protecting Atlantic bluefin tuna, a stable of Ocean City’s commercial and recreational fishery. NOAA Fisheries is considering a rule change and associated draft environmental assessment aimed at reducing discards of Atlantic bluefin tuna and outlined a series of recommendations proposed that would reduce incidental by-catch by commercial long-liners targeting other species. The draft environmental impact statement also includes the ecological and socioeconomic analyses of the proposed amendment change. “All of those involved in the bluefin tuna fishery, including scientists, managers, fishers and environmentalists, share a common concern about the large number of dead discards of incidentally caught bluefin tuna,” said NOAA Fisheries Acting Assistant Administrator Sam Rauch. “The proposed measures filed today underscore the nation’s commitment to sustainable, science-based management of this vital fish stock. These proposed rules help to end overfishing and are consistent with the rebuilding program for western Atlantic bluefin tuna.” Atlantic bluefin tuna are regarded as one of the most important and prized species in the ocean. Often weighing over 500 pounds and reaching more than six feet in length, bluefin tuna are near the top of the ocean food chain, giving them an important role in the marine ecosystem. They are also valuable on the commercial market, which makes them particularly vulnerable to unreported and unregulated fishing internationally. As a result, NOAA Fisheries has identified bluefin tuna as a species of concern, but it is not listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The proposed conservation measures include revising the bluefin quota allocations among fishery participants to increase the allocation to the long-line fishery because dead discards would then be counted against the individual vessel allocations. The proposal would also allocate individual shares of bluefin catch, both landings and discards, to increase accountability. In simpler terms, the proposal would reward those commercial long-liners who have exhibited the ability to avoid bluefin tuna when targeting other species, while holding accountable those fishermen who have not demonstrated the ability to avoid bluefin tuna. By SHAWN J. SOPER NEWS EDITOR tody. Kate Hughlett was charged with 21 total counts including seven counts of first-degree burglary and multiple counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary and theft. She was also charged with two counts of possession of paraphernalia. The investigation revealed Kate Hughlett would knock on doors at residences in Berlin, often during the day, many of which were left unlocked in the otherwise quiet town. Once she was certain the homes were unoccupied, she would enter and take small pieces of jewelry or other items of value that victims did not immediately realize were gone. Last week, Kate Hughlett pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree burglary and was sentenced to eight years in jail. All but 18 months of the sentence was then suspended and Hughlett was placed on probation for five years. Kate Hughlett was also ordered to pay over $18,000 in restitution to eight different victims. The largest amount of restitution ordered for a single victim was $4,720, while the smallest was $350. Meanwhile, James Hughlett has been charged with 19 total counts including six for first-degree burglary and multiple counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary and theft. James Hughlett is scheduled to appear for trial on Oct. 7. SNOW HILL – A Berlin woman, one half of an alleged father-daughter crime spree in the community last spring, pleaded guilty last week in Worcester County Circuit Court to first-degree burglary and was sentenced to eight years in jail with all but 18 months suspended. Through much of last April and May, Berlin Police received several reports of residential burglaries in different areas of the town, each with similar circumstances. The rash of residential burglaries, including three in the span of eight days, had local residents on edge through much of the spring until authorities were able to develop a pair of suspects. Based on the investigation, local law enforcement in mid-May obtained a search-and-seizure warrant for a residence on Baker Street and, based on evidence collected during the raid, arrested James Hughlett, 61, of Berlin. According to a source, a search of Hughlett’s home revealed property belonging to the burglary victims. Through further investigation, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for James Hughlett’s daughter, Kate Hughlett, 23, also of Berlin. Kate Hughlett was arrested the day after her father was taken into cus-