SEATTLE – Coast Guard units across Oregon and Southwest Washington states conducted at-sea and dockside boardings in support of the commercial halibut opener on Wednesday, June 27, 2012.
The fishery was open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Wednesday. Coast Guard aircraft patrolled to ensure no fishermen began fishing early and detected one vessel that continued fishing after the 6 p.m. closure.
Station and cutter crews conducted boardings to ensure compliance with international, federal and state fishing regulations, and inspected vessels’ safety equipment. The Coast Guard crews worked closely with Oregon State Police, Fish and Wildlife Divisions and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement. Personnel from the partner agencies were embarked onboard Coast Guard boats and aircraft.
The nation’s oceans and their ecosystems are vital to the country’s economy and health. By making sure fishing vessels are in compliance with fishery management plans, the Coast Guard helps ensure fishery populations remain healthy and sustainable. In turn, those fisheries contribute to healthy and sustainable coastal communities.
Coast Guard Living Marine Resources program efforts are closely aligned with management goals from NOAA and the coastal states. The goal of the Coast Guard’s LMR program is to “provide effective and professional at-sea enforcement…for…the management of living marine resources and their environment.”
