NOAA and US Coast Guard have cut short the voyage of a Honolulu-based fishing vessel and have asked the crew to report at port. This is done because of allegations of illegal fishing in protected waters of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. The US Coats Guard air crew spotted the bottom fish vessel at midday and shot video and still photos that show the fishing vessel crew hauling its lines out of the water and abruptly getting underway.
After sometime the ari crew again find the fishing vessel crew had put its lines back in the water and allegedly had resumed fishing. After it was informed by the Coast Guard of the vessel’s activities, NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement coordinated with the air crew to immediately end the fishing trip and directed the vessel back to Honolulu for boarding and further investigation.
Then the air crew communicated the order with the master of the fishing vessel via VHF marine band radio. It is said that the fishing vessel crew arrived in Honolulu Saturday morning after a five-day transit. Crews aboard Coast Guard cutters and aircraft conduct routine enforcement and surveillance patrols of the monument while working closely with partner agencies in order to enforce monument regulations and laws.
