Cutter interacts with Bering fisheries during patrol

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Bertholf carried out fisheries enforcement and assistance during a 130-day deployment patrolling the Bering Sea.

The 418-foot Bertholf conducted 24 boardings of commercial fishing vessels, and responded to a disabled fishing vessel 80 nautical miles northeast of Dutch Harbor, a Coast Guard press release said.

"The fishing vessel Seabrooke had lost all electrical power, including navigation equipment and steering as a significant storm was approaching their position," the press release said. "Bertholf arrived on scene and placed the disabled vessel in tow using a bridle that Bertholf's crew handcrafted. Bertholf was relieved of the tow by commercial salvage vessel Makushin Bay who towed the disabled vessel safely into port at Akutan."

Two foreign-flagged trampers were boarded, the Coast Guard said.

The Bertholf also patrolled along the maritime boundary line between the United States and Russia.

Cook Inlet EEZ firearm incident investigated

The U.S. Coast Guard reports the following to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, which is meeting this week in Anchorage.

The Coast Guard conducted coordinated surface and air patrols with NOAA OLE in the first opener of the Cook Inlet EEZ Salmon Fishery. The Coast Guard completed 17 at-sea boardings and 05 hours of C-130 patrol. Notably, the aircrew observed one instance of a firearm being pointed in the direction of a deployed net and vectored a cutter with embarked NOAA OLE agents to the vessel for investigation.

Council thanks Coast Guard for enforcement efforts

Here's the letter.

Fishy activity reported along Russian boundary

The U.S. Coast Guard included the following in its enforcement report to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, which is meeting this week in Sitka.

U.S./Russian Maritime Boundary Line (MBL) Enforcement

Foreign F/V activity along the MBL increased dramatically in May. In April, there was less than one vessel per day along the MBL, increasing to an average of 15 vessels per day at the end of May. There have been numerous detections of Russian longline fishing vessels briefly crossing into the U.S. EEZ, but no clear evidence that they were fishing in U.S. waters. There is strong evidence that one Russian trawl vessel repeatedly entered the U.S. EEZ. As a result, the Coast Guard increased surface and air presence along the MBL to deter future incursions. Additionally, the Coast Guard communicated these incursions to the Russian Border Guard for further action.

Fines imposed after Russian, U.S. authorities respond to suspected outlaw fishing vessel

The U.S. Coast Guard reported the following last week to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

On 14 Jan 2018, representatives from the Russian Border Guard (RBG) notified USCG District 17 of a possible illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) transshipment vessel operating within the U.S. EEZ. The Russian Border Guard stated that the vessel "SEA BREEZE" (Sierra Leone flag) was located 185 nm SSW of Attu, Alaska and was suspected of illegally fishing for crab in U.S. and Russian waters, and linked to organized crime. Russia planned to conduct a search for the M/V SEA BREEZE and requested USCG assistance. D17 responded to Russia's request by launching a HC130 from Air Station Kodiak to detect the suspect vessel and successfully located it operating in the Central Bering Sea (aka Donut Hole) with what appeared to be crab pots onboard. The aircraft attempted to hail and query the vessel, but the vessel was not responsive. All information was passed to the RBG who deployed afloat assets, reacquired the vessel in the Russian EEZ, and conducted an at-sea enforcement boarding. The Russian media reports the M/V SEA BREEZE was detained by the Kamchatka Border Guard for two violations: not authorized to fish in the Russian EEZ and failure to have a logbook onboard. Total fines exceeded 6.5 million rubles ($114,000). The vessel was escorted back to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky for further investigation. M/V SEA BREEZE represents the eighth potential IUU transshipment vessel attempting to operate along the U.S.-Russia maritime boundary line since January of 2017.

Kodiak pair charged with illegal cod fishing

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Marmot Bay area, Kodiak Island
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
Alaska Wildlife Troopers received a report from the U.S. Coast Guard that they had observed the F/V Loki with its Pacific cod pots fishing within the closed waters around Marmot Island. Following an investigation, Ty L. Rouse, 53, of Kodiak, and Tyler J. Obrien, 27, of Kodiak, were issued citations for commercial fishing in closed waters. Arraignment set for 3/20/15 in Kodiak District Court.

Coast Guard orders fishing vessel to port

From the U.S. Coast Guard:

Jan. 24, 2014

Coast Guard terminates fishing vessel voyage near Kodiak

KODIAK — A boarding team from the Coast Guard cutter SPAR terminated the voyage of the fishing vessel Arctic Storm after discovering numerous safety violations aboard the vessel Thursday.

The crew of the SPAR escorted the Arctic Storm back to Kodiak after boarding team members discovered six safety violations, the most significant being the 2006 expiration of the vessel's life raft and hydrostatic release.

The crew of the Arctic Storm was met by personnel from the Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment in Kodiak and will be required to correct all discrepancies before setting sail again.

Press release continues here.

Note: The vessel involved in this case is not the Bering Sea factory trawler Arctic Storm. Rather, it is a much smaller vessel.