Westlake Seafood pleads guilty, fined USD 15,000 for failing to submit purchase records

Westlake Seafood, a wholesaler in Tacoma, Washington, was fined $15,000 for failing to report Dungeness crab and sea urchin purchases to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The owner admitted to not submitting the required records used for setting sustainable harvest limits. The company faced potential fines of up to $500,000 but settled with a $15,000 fine and a suspended sentence. Westlake Seafood did not report fish-receiving tickets totaling over $13,700 from local fishermen. The business exports products live to China and had faced legal issues in the past regarding unpaid bills. Despite initial disputes, the owner's attorney stated that Westlake Seafood now operates within the law and has improved its reporting system following the charges.

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