March 5, 2016 — This week, as the Carlos Rafael saga unfolded in New Bedford and in federal court in Worcester, the U.S. Coast Guard issued a release asking anyone with information on illegal fishing activity to report it to a confidential hotline.
Coincidence? Hardly.
A Coast Guard spokeswoman said the hotline has been used in the past, but the Coast Guard is publicizing it more extensively now and one of the reasons is the Rafael case. The New Bedford fishing mogul is facing federal charges of conducting illegal fishing operations, conspiracy and falsifying fish-reporting documents.
“Is it partly because of the case? Definitely,” Lt. Karen Kutkiewicz said Friday.
Kutkiewicz said the hotline, which is manned by Coast Guard personnel, already has received numerous tips on illegal fishing from callers in the New Bedford area and Boston. She did not specify if any related directly to the Rafael case.
She also said the hotline will continue operating as long as tips keep coming in.
“We really want to make sure that the guys that are out there fishing legitimately have the best shot,” she said. “We want the playing field to be level.”
She urged anyone with information on illegal fishing activities to call the line at 1-844-847-2431.