U.S. Coast Guard boards vessel believed to be
fishing illegally in Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
HONOLULU -- In this photo taken by U.S. Coast Guardsmen aboard a C-130 long-range aircraft, crew members of a Honolulu-based fishing vessel are visible at the rail of their vessel allegedly fishing illegally in the waters of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.
The photo was taken Friday, Feb. 27, 2009, but the vessel returned Sunday night to Honolulu Harbor under escort by the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Kukui. A boarding team from the Kukui gathered evidence on scene in monument waters and that evidence has been turned over to special agents with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Law Enforcement.
The crew of the fishing vessel was met at the pier in Honolulu Harbor by NOAA special agents. In the event of a violation, the owner and operator of the vessel may face potential civil penalties and/or permit sanctions.
Visit www.uscghawaii.com for a complete story on this case.
U.S. COAST GUARD PHOTO
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