12-14-2003, 05:27 AM
[font "Arial"][size 2]December 12, 2003
MOREHEAD CITY - The North Carolina Marine Patrol auctioned off a tuna on Thursday morning, Dec. 11, potentially bringing in approximately $2,400 for Carteret County schools.
During a routine patrol at Portside Marina in Morehead City on Dec. 10, Officer Mark Daniels confiscated the bluefin tuna. Barrett Gardner McMullen of Ocean Isle, N.C. was charged with selling fish without a valid Standard Commercial Fishing License. This violation is a Class A-1 misdemeanor.
Fish dealers in the area were notified and the 264-pound tuna was sold under a state court order to Maguro American Inc., the highest bidder at the auction. The tuna brought $9.06 per pound, and a check for $2,391.84 was made out to the Carteret County Clerk of Court. The money will be held in escrow until a judge determines the outcome of the case. If Mr. McMullen is found guilty, the money will go to the Carteret County School System.
The auction took place at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries headquarters in Morehead City. [center]![[Image: tuna1a.jpg]](http://www.ncdmf.net/news/images2k3/tuna1a.jpg)
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MOREHEAD CITY - The North Carolina Marine Patrol auctioned off a tuna on Thursday morning, Dec. 11, potentially bringing in approximately $2,400 for Carteret County schools.
During a routine patrol at Portside Marina in Morehead City on Dec. 10, Officer Mark Daniels confiscated the bluefin tuna. Barrett Gardner McMullen of Ocean Isle, N.C. was charged with selling fish without a valid Standard Commercial Fishing License. This violation is a Class A-1 misdemeanor.
Fish dealers in the area were notified and the 264-pound tuna was sold under a state court order to Maguro American Inc., the highest bidder at the auction. The tuna brought $9.06 per pound, and a check for $2,391.84 was made out to the Carteret County Clerk of Court. The money will be held in escrow until a judge determines the outcome of the case. If Mr. McMullen is found guilty, the money will go to the Carteret County School System.
The auction took place at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries headquarters in Morehead City. [center]
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