Coast Guard Law Enforcement

[BuoyJumper]

NOAA Closes 4200 Square Miles
of Gulf to Royal Red Shrimping
by Jamie Burch
Published: Wed, November 24, 2010



A shrimper from Bon Secour went shrimping for royal reds in an area recently reopened to fishing.
When he pulled in his nets, the shrimp was covered in what's believed to be tarballs.

UNDATED - NOAA has closed 4,213 square miles of the Gulf, off the coast of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, to royal red shrimping.

On Saturday, a shrimper from Bon Secour went shrimping for royal reds in an area recently reopened to fishing, 40 miles south of the Deepwater Horizon Explosion. When he pulled in his nets, the shrimp was covered in what's believed to be tarballs.

“We are taking this situation seriously," said Roy Crabtree, assistant NOAA administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service southeast region. “Our primary concerns are public safety and ensuring the integrity of the Gulf’s seafood supply."

Royal red shrimp are caught in Gulf waters deeper than 600 feet and are the only species targeted with trawls at these depths. The more common Gulf shrimp species are brown, white and pink shrimp and are caught in waters less than 300 feet deep.



These waters were closed to all commercial and recreational fishing after the April 20 explosion. They were reopened on November 15 after hundreds of seafood specimens sampled from the area, including royal red shrimp, passed both sensory and chemical testing.

The decision to close them again was made after consulting the Food and Drug Administration.

Original Article

[BuoyJumper]

Press Release
Date: November 10, 2010
Contact: District 7 Public Affairs

Coast Guard rescues,
repatriates 127 Haitian migrants



MIAMI — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma repatriated 127 Haitian migrants to Cap Haitien, Haiti, Friday.

The Haitian migrants were rescued from their overloaded and unstable 40-foot wooden sailing vessel approximately 85 miles west of Great Inagua, Bahamas, Sunday after being located by a Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew deployed to Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma arrived on scene and provided life jackets to the 127 Haitian migrants prior to safely embarking them on the cutter.

Once aboard Coast Guard cutters, all migrants are provided with food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.

For more information on how to legally immigrate to the United States, call U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at 1-800-375-5283 or visit the USCIS website at http://www.uscis.gov/.

The Tahoma is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homported in Portsmouth, N.H.

Press Release

[BuoyJumper]

Press Release
Date: November 10, 2010
Contact: District 7 Public Affairs

17 Cuban migrants rescued and
repatriated to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba



MIAMI — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Ocracoke repatriated 17 Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, Saturday, after they were interdicted at sea during two separate cases.

While on routine patrol, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma located a rustic vessel 12 miles north of Punta Maisi, Cuba, Dec. 4, 2010.  The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Sitkinak provided the migrants life jackets prior to safely embarking them on the cutter.

The 12 migrants were later transferred to the Coast Guard Cutter Kodiak Island and then to the Ocracoke for repatriation.

The Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Monarch of the Seas located a rustic vessel 18 miles west of Freeport, Bahamas, Sunday, with six persons onboard. The Monarch of the Seas crew contacted the Coast Guard and safely embarked the migrants on the cruise ship.

A Coast Guard Response Boat-Medium crew from Station Cape Canaveral, Fla., rendezvoused with the cruise ship Monday and safely transferred the six migrants to the RB-M and then to the Coast Guard Cutter Shrike.  All six migrants were later transferred to the Ocracoke.

One of the migrants will be transferred to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for further processing.

Once aboard Coast Guard cutters, all migrants are provided with food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.

Press Release

[BuoyJumper]

Press Release
Date: November 10, 2010
Contact: District 7 Public Affairs

Key West Coast Guard crew seizes
more than 1,100 lbs of cocaine



KEY WEST, Fla. —  The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Thetis interdicted a go-fast vessel carrying more than 1,100 pounds of cocaine and also detained five suspected smugglers off the coast of Nicaragua, Dec. 3.

At approximately 10 p.m., Dec. 3, Thetis crewmembers spotted a suspicious go-fast vessel. Thetis crewmembers launched their smallboat with a boarding team to investigate, while the crew of the nearby Coast Guard Cutter Spencer launched their embarked helicopter aircrew to assist in the interdiction.

A maritime patrol aircraft crew also arrived on scene to assist tracking the vessel as the suspects attempted to outrun multiple Coast Guard assets.

After more than three hours of chasing through rough seas, the suspects surrendered. The suspected smugglers jettisoned a majority of their illicit cargo into the ocean as Thetis’ boarding team closed in and boarded the vessel, securing the suspects and cargo. In addition to the five bales discovered remaining onboard the go-fast vessel, the smallboat crew was also able to recover 15 more bales floating nearby.

“This was a full team effort,” said Lt. j.g. Erin Palmer, Thetis’ lead boarding officer on the case. “We would not have been able to carry out this mission without the participation and expertise of everyone involved.”

The contraband and suspected smugglers were transferred to law-enforcement authorities in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The Thetis is a 270-foot medium-endurance cutter homeported in Key West.
The Spencer is a 270-foot medium-endurance cutter homeported in Boston.

Press Release

[BuoyJumper]

Press Release
Date: December 22, 2010
Contact: District 5 Public Affairs

Coast Guard to cast net
for striped bass poachers



PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard, state and federal agencies are intensifying efforts to stop the illegal poaching of striped bass off the Atlantic coast this winter season.

In an effort to ensure the health of the striped bass population, the Coast Guard is working to raise awareness of the federal regulations governing striped bass and to increase enforcement efforts to protect the migration and spawning of the fish from illegal poaching activities.

Striped bass populations are moving farther off shore into warmer waters and fishermen are often pursuing the fish beyond the authorized state waters. Atlantic striped bass may not be caught, harvested or possessed in the Exclusive Economic Zone. A person caught fishing for striped bass outside of 3 nautical miles and into the EEZ is subject to fines starting at $100 per fish.

The Coast Guard has established an Atlantic Striped Bass Reporting Hotline at 757-398-6598. The public is encouraged to report any suspected poaching activity to the hotline. Calls should include a description of the activity, those involved, the location and the time of the suspected offense. Such information greatly increases the effectiveness of law enforcement operations.

"The Coast Guard is working with state law enforcement and the National Marine Fisheries Service to enforce regulations prohibiting fishing for striped bass outside of 3 nautical miles," said Lt. Kevin Saunders of the 5th Coast Guard District's enforcement branch. "By working to curtail the illegal actions of a few fishermen, we can help ensure future generations have the opportunity to participate in this fishery."

Press Release

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Press Release
Date: December 28, 2010
Contact: District 7 Public Affairs

Coast Guard rescues,
repatriates 80 Haitian migrants


The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba embarks 80 Haitian migrants four miles south of Matthewtown, Bahamas Dec. 26, 2010 after being located by a Coast Guard Air Station Detroit, Mich., MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

MIAMI — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba repatriated 80 Haitian migrants to Cap Haitien, Haiti, Tuesday.

The Haitian migrants were rescued from their overloaded and unstable 40-foot wooden sailing vessel approximately four miles south of Matthewtown, Bahamas, Sunday, after being located by a Coast Guard Air Station Detroit, Mich., MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

After a request for assistance under a bilateral agreement with the Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba arrived on scene, provided life jackets to the 80 Haitian migrants and, with the assistance of Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) personnel, safely embarked them on the cutter.

"This case demonstrates the importance of readiness, forward deployment and partnerships," said Cmdr. Edward Westfall, Escanaba's commanding officer. "It is rewarding when all of the elements we train for and develop come together to successfully halt illicit trafficking and prevent a tragedy at sea."

Once aboard Coast Guard cutters, all migrants are provided with food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.

The RBDF vessel HMBS Nortec destroyed the wooden sailing vessel as a danger to navigation.

For more information on how to legally immigrate to the United States, call U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at 1-800-375-5283 or visit the USCIS website at http://www.uscis.gov/.

The cutter Escanaba is a 270-foot medium-endurance cutter homeported in Boston.

Press Release

[BuoyJumper]

Press Release
Date: December 30, 2010
Contact: District 7 Public Affairs

Coast Guard seizes $48-million worth
of cocaine in Western Caribbean



MIAMI — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Thetis intercepted a go-fast boat 160 nautical miles off the coast of Colon, Panama, Dec. 17, 2010.

The intercepted boat was carrying 62 bales of cocaine weighing 3,400 pounds and worth an estimated wholesale value of $48 million.

The cutter Thetis launched a smallboat crew and was assisted by aircraft from the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection Agency, Air and Marine Branch, to stop the go-fast vessel.

Bales were found and retrieved aboard the smuggling boat by Coast Guard boarding team members.

Crewmembers of the Key West-based Cutter Thetis offloaded the 62 bales of cocaine at the Coast Guard base in Miami Beach Wednesday followed by remarks from the Thetis commanding officer, Cmdr. Douglas Schofield, regarding the seizure.

"We are ready to stop all contraband on the high seas with our partners, not only in the U.S., but those international agencies that work with us day to day," said Schofield, of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The three suspected smugglers were transferred to authorities in Miami Wednesday.

This marks the second seizure from the Coast Guard Cutter Thetis this month.

Press Release

[militia2]

I have always wondered how much we miss. I know there is no way to ever tell, but are we picking up like 10% more? Less?

[BuoyJumper]

Press Release
Date: January 16, 2011
Contact: District 7 Public Affairs

Coast Guard seizes two illegal
fishing vessels near Corpus Christi



CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coast Guard two lanchas believed to be illegally fishing in U.S. waters approximately 25 miles south of the Mexico border Sunday.

A watchstander at Coast Guard Station South Padre Island received a call from a good samaritan working on an offshore rig late Sunday evening, reporting three small vessels actively fishing approximately 50 yards from the rig.

The Coast Guard launched two 33-foot Special Purpose Craft - Law Enforcement boats and crews from Station South Padre Island and a HU-25 Falcon jet from Air Station Corpus Christi. The Falcon spotted the vessels and directed the Coast Guard small boats to the lanchas. One of the three lanchas made it back into Mexican waters, while the remaining two were intercepted by the Coast Guard small boats. Additionally,  Customs and Border Protection launched an asset and crew.

Both lanchas had several fish and sharks onboard. The Coast Guard apprehended eight crewmembers from the lanchas, who were handed over to Border Patrol officers at approximately 1 a.m., Monday.

"Historically, in January we see an increase of border activity, but we have already seen almost double this month than we had this time last year," said LCDR Darren Melanson, a Coast Guard Law Enforcement Officer. "Tips from good samaritans are so helpful because it increases our awareness of what is out there."

The fishermen who were apprehended abandoned their lines after spotting Coast Guard assets, and Coast Guard would like to remind boaters of the thousands of feet of abandoned fishing lines and the potential hazard it presents.

Video of this case can be viewed and downloaded HERE.

Press Release

[BuoyJumper]

Press Release
Date: January 24, 2011
Contact: District 7 Public Affairs

19 Cuban migrants apprehended and
returned to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba



MIAMI — The crew of the Coast Guard Nantucket repatriated 19 Cuban migrants interdicted during three incidents to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, Monday.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Sawfish interdicted two rustic vessels Thursday, one with seven Cuban migrants aboard approximately 60 miles south of Marquesas, Fla., and one with eight Cuban migrants aboard 65 miles south of Key West, Fla.

In the third incident, multiple aircrews from Coast Guard Air Station Miami located a 30-foot go-fast type vessel approximately eight miles east of Hillsboro Inlet, Fla, Tuesday. After the operator of the go-fast failed to follow a lawful order to stop, a Coast Guard Station Fort Lauderdale, Fla., boatcrew fired warning shots, which was successful in compelling the operator to stop the vessel about four miles east of Hillsboro Inlet.  Aboard the vessel were two suspected smugglers, four Cuban migrants and four Haitian migrants.

The two suspected smugglers were turned over to Customs and Border Protection officials in Fort Lauderdale, Thursday. One Haitian migrant was turned over to CBP officals ashore due to medical concerns. 

Disposition is not complete for the remaining three Haitian migrants.

Once aboard a Coast Guard Cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical care.

Press Release

[BuoyJumper]

Press Release
Date: February 04, 2011
Contact: District 7 Public Affairs

Coast Guard crew nabs
1,100 pounds of marijuana



MIAMI — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant offloaded more than 1,100 pounds of marijuana at Coast Guard Sector Key West, Fla., Wednesday, that was interdicted at sea Jan. 18.

While on a routine patrol, the crew of the Vigilant located a 30-foot go-fast vessel with multiple fuel drums on deck and five persons aboard in the western Caribbean Sea Jan. 18.  The Vigilant crew launched their smallboat to pursue the go-fast vessel.  During the westbound pursuit, crewmembers witnessed personnel aboard the go-fast jettison multiple bales into the water.

Two Costa Rican smallboat crews launched to assist. However, the go-fast crew was able to beach the vessel in Costa Rica, and flee on foot evading capture.

The crew of the Vigilant was able to recover 40 bales and 15 bricks of marijuana worth almost $1 million.

The contraband was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Key West Wednesday. Special agents assigned to ICE HSI marine smuggling investigative group continue the investigation.

The Vigilant is a 210-foot medium-endurance cutter homeported in Port Canaveral, Fla.

Press Release

[BuoyJumper]

Press Release
Date: February 16, 2011
Contact: District 11 Public Affairs

DHS agencies interdict 18
suspected migrants off Dana Point



SAN DIEGO — The coordinated efforts of the San Diego Maritime Unified Command (MUC) resulted in the apprehension of 18 suspected illegal migrants early Tuesday morning off the coast of Dana Point, Calif.

The Coast Guard Cutter Haddock detected an overloaded panga full of suspected undocumented aliens about six miles west of Dana Point and, along with a vessel from Customs and Border Protection (CBP), interdicted the vessel.

A boarding team from the Haddock approached the panga to assess the situation of everyone on board. All 15 men and three women were then transferred to the CBP boat and transported to Dana Point where they were taken into custody.

The water temperature at the time of the apprehension was 59 degrees. Although the seas and winds were relatively calm, being on the water at night in an overloaded boat without life jackets or other means of protection is extremely dangerous. The Coast Guard would like to remind all mariners the importance of having a life jacket for everyone aboard their boat in case of an emergency.

The U.S. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection are member agencies of the Maritime Unified Command. The MUC is comprised of the U.S. Coast Guard, CBP's Office of Air & Marine and U.S. Border Patrol, ICE and state and local law enforcement partners operating in the San Diego and Orange County maritime domain. The MUC utilizes the fusion of intelligence, planning and operations to target the threat of transnational crime along the coastal border.

Press Release

[PSDIVER]

great haul..need these guys on our police team!!

[EX-CG-GM]

They do a pretty good job right where they are!