ASTORIA (AP) — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has accused a commercial fisherman of catching almost $75,000 worth of groundfish during three illegal fishing trips in September 2007.

The agency has proposed a $116,000 fine against Dennis Sturgell of Warrenton. Sturgell has 30 days to request a hearing before an administrative law judge.

NOAA alleges that Sturgell violated a federal law that requires fishermen to declare their fishing gear and track their vessel locations with a monitoring system.

Karl Hellberg, a NOAA special agent based in Astoria, says the monitoring system ensures that fishing boats stay out of the Rockfish Conservation Area, which was created to protect overfished species.

Hellberg says fishermen must tell NOAA what gear they’re using because only certain gear-types are allowed to fish in restricted areas.