Former Tulalip Tribes fisheries co-director accused of poaching

TULALIP — Joe Hatch was supposed to be managing the shellfish he’s now accused of poaching.

The former co-director of the Tulalip Tribes fisheries and wildlife division is facing criminal charges for allegedly trafficking in crab and shrimp.

Hatch, 51, resigned his tribal post July 29, five days after his arrest.

A former tribal official, he is part of a larger investigation by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and the tribes into the illegal sale of shellfish. His son, Joseph Hatch Jr., 25, also was arrested. Illegal trafficking in shellfish can be a felony under state law.

The Tulalip Tribes have charged both Joe Hatch Sr. and Jr. with 13 counts of fishing in closed waters.

“Those who fail to abide by Tulalip fisheries laws will be held accountable, regardless of the position they may hold with the Tribes,” tribal officials said in a statement Tuesday. “These alleged crimes are the actions of an individual and the case is currently going through our tribal justice system, following the processes laid out in our laws regardless of name, title or position.”

The tribal prosecution is in addition to any state charges the father and son may face.

The state fish and wildlife investigators’ statement, filed when the Hatches were arrested, makes clear that officials in late March had reason to suspect the father and son were engaged in illegal fishing. They were reportedly observed on their boat fishing during a closed season, with 30 Dungeness crab aboard.

Surveillance began after a tip that the pair was trafficking in illegally harvested shellfish, primarily shrimp and crab. Investigators reportedly documented the first clandestine sale in April. They didn’t immediately move in for an arrest out of desire to identify the extent of the illegal seafood market, including others involved in distribution and sales.

“We have an illicit marketplace that really encourages poaching,” said Deputy Chief Mike Cenci, who oversees marine enforcement for the Fish and Wildlife Department. Hatch allegedly sold crab and shrimp well below the price charged for legitimately harvested shellfish, undercutting those who follow the rules, Cenci said.

The amounts of illicitly caught shrimp and crab in this case was in sufficient quantity that it could have harmed those resources over time, he added.

People who harvest, buy and sell wild-caught fish and shellfish are required to carefully document each step — and those records are inspected.

The case helped investigators better understand the ways people are bypassing regulated harvest and sales, Cenci said.

“I think it was important to be able to demonstrate that we could look through the layers of deceit and catch them,” he said.

More suspects might face charges and other legal consequences. For example, a truck was seized last week from a man accused of buying and selling illegally harvested shellfish.

Fisheries agents in the spring began to tail the Hatches at marinas in Everett and La Conner.

At times, the investigators used high-powered binoculars and followed the pair to the mall, and parking lots at fast-food restaurants and a car wash, for alleged buys.

In May, the two allegedly were observed repeatedly harvesting crab after hours and out of season.

Snohomish County is not planning to review the case for possible criminal charges. Prosecutors here have been in touch with the state Attorney General’s Office about the case.

“We intend to relinquish our right to act as the prosecuting authority to the AG’s office,” chief criminal deputy prosecutor Joan Cavagnaro said.

The state office has more resources and the investigation spans several jurisdictions, Cavagnaro said. Fish and Wildlife officials worked with the Tulalip Police Department during the investigation. Tribal officials confirmed their police department helped secure search warrants for the arrests.

During parts of the investigation state game wardens were accompanied by TV crews from Animal Planet, shooting episodes for “Rugged Justice,” a program about wildlife enforcement. The video teams have been embedded for about a year and were not specifically documenting this case, Cenci said.

Hatch also is under investigation for theft. A boat motor reportedly was taken from a vessel that had flipped, pitching the occupants into Puget Sound. The owners had the vessel towed to a safe location on the shoreline near Mukilteo. Game wardens were engaged in surveillance on the shellfish case when they spotted Hatch with the stolen motor, according to the probable cause statement.

The Herald first learned of Joe Hatch’s arrest last month when he was booked into the Snohomish County Jail. The state Fish and Wildlife sergeant handling the case urged the newspaper to wait on publishing anything because he was still actively investigating.

Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.

Tulalip Tribes statement

The Tulalip Tribes issued a statement on the poaching arrest of Joseph Hatch, its former tribal fish and wildlife co-director.

“The Tulalip Tribes is committed to effectively managing and regulating its treaty fishery. Just as Tulalip demands that the State regulate and account for all non-Indian harvest, the Tribes as co-manager must also accurately account for tribal harvest numbers. The Tulalip Tribes is committed to managing the treaty fisheries resource to ensure sustainable fisheries for generations to come. The Tulalip Tribes has adopted comprehensive treaty fisheries laws and regulations governing its treaty fishery. Effective fisheries management includes effective enforcement to protect against fishing in closed waters and unreported catch. Those who fail to abide by Tulalip fisheries laws will be held accountable, regardless of the position they may hold with the Tribes. These alleged crimes are the actions of an individual and the case is currently going through our tribal justice system, following the processes laid out in our laws regardless of name, title or position.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Everett
11 months later, Lake Stevens man charged in fatal Casino Road shooting

Malik Fulson is accused of shooting Joseph Haderlie to death in the parking lot at the Crystal Springs Apartments last April.

T.J. Peters testifies during the murder trial of Alan Dean at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bothell cold case trial now in jury’s hands

In court this week, the ex-boyfriend of Melissa Lee denied any role in her death. The defendant, Alan Dean, didn’t testify.

A speed camera facing west along 220th Street Southwest on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Washington law will allow traffic cams on more city, county roads

The move, led by a Snohomish County Democrat, comes as roadway deaths in the state have hit historic highs.

Mrs. Hildenbrand runs through a spelling exercise with her first grade class on the classroom’s Boxlight interactive display board funded by a pervious tech levy on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lakewood School District’s new levy pitch: This time, it won’t raise taxes

After two levies failed, the district went back to the drawing board, with one levy that would increase taxes and another that would not.

Alex Hanson looks over sections of the Herald and sets the ink on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Black Press, publisher of Everett’s Daily Herald, is sold

The new owners include two Canadian private investment firms and a media company based in the southern United States.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.