Date: June 12, 2009
Contact:
808-535-3230

U.S. Coast Guard, Navy to provide joint presence
in Western and Central Pacific Ocean

HONOLULU — The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy are combining efforts to monitor and deter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Central and Western Pacific.

Crew members from the Fourteenth Coast Guard District will sail aboard the Oliver Hazard Perry-class, guided-missile frigate, USS Crommelin (FFG 37), when the Pearl Harbor-based ship deploys Monday morning.

The partnership will further the joint-service goal of providing a persistent presence for maritime surveillance and security in the region.

"This mission will increase the awareness of the maritime domain and further enhance the Coast Guard's interoperability with the Navy as well as law enforcement assets from our regional partners," said Cmdr. Mark Young, chief of enforcement for the Fourteenth Coast Guard District here.

Both the Coast Guard and the Navy have shared goals of protecting the fragile ecosystems of Oceania as well as enforcing maritime laws throughout mutual areas of responsibility.

Of great concern to the Coast Guard and its law enforcement partners are the nearly 3.4 million square miles of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ); 1.5 million miles are within the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. Protection of the EEZs fall under the key Coast Guard mission areas of Maritime Security and Protection of Natural Resources.

For more information, please contact Coast Guard public affairs at 808-535-3230 or Navy Region Hawaii public affairs at 808-473-2877.

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