Dongwon Industries, owner of StarKist Tuna and South Korea’s largest fishing company, has been accused by a whistleblower of making false statements to defraud the U.S. government in violation of the False Claims Act. According to the allegations, Dongwon improperly obtained U.S. vessel documentation and tuna fishing licenses by creating “paper companies,” using the acquired U.S. citizenships of a former Dongwon executive’s daughters. In addition, Dongwon allegedly concealed facts about its oil discharge and dumping at sea in order to avoid or decrease civil penalties.

In early 2013, the U.S. identified South Korea as an illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing nation for failing to regulate IUU fishing of Korean vessels. South Korea may face a ban on the imports of certain fish or fish products into the U.S. if the country fails to address these improper practices by the end of 2014.

Read the entire article, “South Korea Tuna Company Charged with Defrauding US Government”