Coast Guard Cutter Seneca - Coast Guard photo by Petty Office Connie Terrell
The partnership combined two different, but very essential enforcement efforts coordinated by Coast Guard Sector Northern New England based in Portland, ME. The MMP officers focused on commercial fishing regulations within their jurisdiction for the Northern Shrimp and American Lobster Fisheries, while the Coast Guard officers ensured compliance with federal safety and environmental regulations.
Both enforcement efforts are critical to the Maine and New England economy, ensuring conservation of the fish stock as a vital natural resource and verifying that fishing vessels have required safety equipment to save lives and property in an emergency at sea. Fishing off the coast of Maine in often unforgiving weather requires diligent safety practices.
The joint operations continued to expand and foster the already strong relationship between the MMP and the Coast Guard. Actively executing multiple missions together improved communications and processes that will have a positive impact on the local community and provide for smooth, coordinated emergency responses in the future.
The Seneca is a 270-foot Famous Class Cutter homeported in Boston Massachusetts and has a crew of 101 active duty personnel who carry out homeland security, search and rescue, and law enforcement missions throughout the western hemisphere.
