Three Southeast Alaska fishermen have been charged with intentionally sinking their fishing boats in waters near Sitka and Petersburg.
Federal law prohibits the deliberate sinking of a vessel that obstructs navigable waters, and each of them are facing prison time and fines.
Federal prosecutors say on March 8, 2025, 59-year-old John Fisher of Sitka intentionally sunk the F/V Igloo into Sitka Sound; and on Aug. 3, they say, 40-year-old Joseph Poling of Petersburg intentionally sunk the F/V Leeward into Thomas Bay. Then, between Sept. 28 and Oct. 3, 65-year-old Toni Vanveen of Sitka allegedly sunk the F/V O’kisutch into Sitka Harbor.
The men are charged separately, but prosecutors noted all three cases together in a news release this week.
The U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service is investigating the cases, with assistance from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Environmental Crimes Unit.
USCG Public Affairs Specialist Cameron Snell told KCAW in a statement that Coast Guard investigators turned over evidence to the Department of Justice for prosecution.
“Sunken vessels pose navigation hazards and can become underwater obstructions, creating risks for other vessels,” Snell said. “Sunken vessels can lead to collisions, groundings, and other accidents, endangering lives, and property. Furthermore, sunken vessels can also pose a pollution risk due to the fuel, oil, and other potentially hazardous materials that may be aboard.”
Both the USCG and DOJ said they couldn’t comment further since the investigations are ongoing.
Each defendant is charged with one count of obstruction of navigable waters by sinking a vessel. If convicted, each of them faces a mandatory minimum of 30 days and up to one year in federal prison, and a fine of up to $25,000 per day for every day the sunken vessel remains in the water.
Fisher, Poling and Vanveen are scheduled for back-to-back-to-back court appearances in Anchorage on March 13.
