Fish Importer Fined $17,500 for Operating Without License

A Daly City fish importing business owner has been fined $17,500 for illegally importing more than 202,000 pounds of tuna from the Philippines, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.

Caesar Ruivivar, owner of Blue H2O Seafood, was found to have operated without a commercial fish importing license between Jan. 1, 2011, to Nov. 30, 2011, and Jan. 1, 2012, to Jan. 25, 2012, according to the District Attorney's office.

Investigators from the California Department of Fish and Game, which is responsible for administering fish importer licenses, alleged that Ruivivar imported 1,688 Yellowfin tuna caught in the Philippines while operating without a proper license.

The fish weighed about 202,500 pounds and was sold to various seafood wholesalers, according to the District Attorney's office.

A San Mateo County Superior Court judge ordered Ruivivar to pay $17,500 in fines Monday for licensing violations and to comply with all importing laws.

To manage coastal fisheries at a sustainable level, the Department of Fish and Game requires a license to catch fish for commercial purposes, as well as a permit to import fish into the state, according to the District Attorney's office.

— Bay City News

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