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.”
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