Fisheries Law Enforcement News

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley returned to homeport at Coast Guard Base Kodiak, Alaska, on Thursday, following an extended seven-month dry dock maintenance period in Seattle.While in dry dock, the crew and contractors successfully completed more than $6 million worth of repairs.The engineering department oversaw 76 work items including major overhauls on the cutter’s controllable pitch propeller system, speed reducers, rudders, and boilers, along with inspections of fuel, sewage, and water tanks.

The United States and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) on Thursday signed a remote shiprider agreement enabling the U.S. to act on behalf of the country to combat illicit maritime activity when an FSM law enforcement officer is not present.FSM is a nation with over six hundred islands in the Pacific, and the agreement provides a coordinating mechanism and process for U.S. law enforcement personnel to work with the FSM National Police through command centers to receive approval from the FSM to act.

The Coast Guard’s 353-ton, 154-foot fast response cutter (WPC) is capable of deploying independently to conduct missions that include port, waterways and coastal security; fishery patrols; search and rescue; and national defense. The service plans to build 64 of them to replace the 110-foot Island class patrol boats. The FRC has a range of 2,500 miles, but the endurance of the 24 crewmembers is normally limited to about five days based on the quantity of provisions carried. Both the 110s and 154s have about the same speed and range…

USCGC Sequoia (WLB-215), homeported in Apra Harbor, Guam, is scheduled to arrive in Saipan today, for a port visit before continuing aids to navigation operations in Western Oceania. The Sequoia will be open to the public for tours Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Port of Saipan in Tanapag Harbor. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Pets are not allowed aboard the cutter. Coast Guard crewmembers will be standing by to answer questions about Sequoia. The Sequoia conducted fisheries enforcement patrols, supporting forum fisheries agency operations and conducting aids to navigation within Western Oceania in support of Operation Tui Moana and Island Chief 2016.

In a bipartisan vote, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee amended the Homeland Security Agency proposal to protect the Coast Guard and Federal Emergency Management Agency from being absorbed into the proposed new agency. The bipartisan amendment to the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (H.R. 5005) was approved by a voice vote. - U.S. Rep. - U.S. Rep. “There is no doubt that after the events of September 11, the President must be given the resources to protect this country from all attacks, whether terrorist or otherwise,” Young said during the markup. “I want to make it clear that I do not object to the creation of a Department of Homeland Security. However, the bill as introduced raises many concerns which this Congress has a responsibility to address.

Legislation that authorizes $8.1 billion in Fiscal Year 2006 for the U.S. Coast Guard’s maritime strategy for homeland security, core mission performance and operational assets was approved today by the U.S. House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. “The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2005” (H.R. 889) was unanimously approved by a voice vote. H.R. H.R. 889 was introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska), and is cosponsored by Subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Transportation Committee Ranking Democratic Member James Oberstar (D-MN), and Coast Guard Subcommittee Ranking Democratic Member Bob Filner (D-CA). H.R.

Implementation of the U.S. Coast Guard’s program to replace and modernize over 90 ships and 200 aircraft used in its offshore missions - including drug and migrant interdiction, homeland security and fisheries law enforcement - will be the topic of a Congressional oversight hearing on Wednesday. The hearing by the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, chaired by U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20th in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building. - Admiral Thomas A. Accompanied by Rear Admiral Patrick M. The Coast Guard began planning a recapitalization program to replace existing deepwater-capable assets in 1996.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous is scheduled to hold a change-of-command ceremony at the ship's homeport here. During the ceremony, Cmdr. Glenn Grahl will be formally relieved as commanding officer of the cutter by Cmdr. Paul Flynn. The CGC Vigorous is a 210-ft. medium-endurance cutter homeported at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May. Flynn began his Coast Guard career in 1991 on CGC Papaw, out of Galveston, Texas. In 1993, he was selected as the commanding officer of CGC Point Baker, out of Sabine, Texas. In 1995, Flynn attended the University of Rhode Island graduate school earning a Master's Degree in Marine Affairs. Following graduate school, Flynn was assigned to the Office of Law Enforcement, 17th Coast Guard District in Juneau, Alaska.

The Coast Guard will hold listening sessions around the country beginning the end of March seeking input from all sectors of the fishing industry on its fisheries law enforcement strategy, especially as it relates to current fisheries trends and future challenges. At the listening sessions, the Coast Guard will discuss its fisheries strategic plan, known as Ocean Guardian, which outlines the Coast Guard’s strategy for effective and professional fisheries law enforcement. The Coast Guard enforces fisheries laws and regulations in the 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (3.4 million sq.mi.) and on the high seas. Ocean Guardian is revalidated every five years to ensure it is properly aligned with domestic and international enforcement needs.

The Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure conducted a hearing which discussed the Coast Guard's move to the Department of Homeland Security. JayEtta Z. Hecker, Director, Physical Infrastructure, U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) testified that USCG levels of effort in some mission areas, such as fisheries enforcement and drug interdiction, have dropped sharply since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Delays in the planned modernization of cutters and other equipment, responsibility for new security-related tasks as directed under the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA)…