It had been eight years since the U.S. Coast Guard's Honolulu, Hawaii-based 14th district last intercepted foreign vessels illegally operating within the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near Guam and Hawaii. On Monday, 24 February, the military service was lauded for combatting illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing in the Western Pacific region once again via the interdiction of more foreign vessels.
The Maritime Executive reported on the interception of the IUU-suspected vessels, which came one week after the 2020 State of the United States Coast Guard address delivered by Admiral Karl Schultz.
"While regulation compliance among U.S. fishers is near 97 percent, some of the lowest policed areas, such as the waters in the Western and Central Pacific, are responsible for the highest percentage of significant violations," Lieutenant Jason Holstead said of the Western Pacific region EEZ. Holstead noted that while the Coast Guard addressed foreign incursions in the EEZs of partner countries and IUU fishing on the high seas over the past eight years, this is the first instance in that timeframe involving the U.S. EEZ.
Meanwhile, in his address, Admiral Schultz spoke of the modern national security challenges related to IUU.
"China, with the world's largest distant water fishing fleet, is one of the worst predatory fishing offenders, engaging in what we call illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing – or IUU," Schultz said. "This is far more than just about conservation and sustainability, this is a national security challenge warranting a clear response."
Schultz said that many Pacific Island Countries, "and even American island territories, lack the capability and capacity to fully police their sovereign waters ..." As a means to enhance maritime domain awareness in the Pacific Ocean, “we are fostering a partnership with Global Fishing Watch,” Schultz added.
The Coast Guard is "on track to take delivery of the first two 154-foot Fast Response Cutters to be home-ported in Guam" by the end of the year, Schultz said. Through this process, the organization will replace 40-year-old vessels and strengthen its capabilities in the region.
