Photos Available: Coast Guard detains fishing vessel Run Da, seizes 80 tons of salmon for suspected illegal fishing in the North Pacific Ocean

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News Release

 

U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska
Contact: 17th District Public Affairs
Office: (907) 463-2065
After Hours: (907) 321-4513
17th District online newsroom

 

Coast Guard detains fishing vessel Run Da, seizes 80 tons of salmon for suspected illegal fishing in the North Pacific Ocean

The USCGC Alex Haley (WMEC 39) and crew detain the fishing vessel Run Da after it was suspected of high seas drift net fishing in the North Pacific Ocean, 860 miles east of Hokkaido, Japan, June 16, 2018. The Alex Haley crew transferred custody of the Run Da and its crew to the People’s Republic of China Coast Guard. U.S. Coast Guard photo. USCGC Alex Haley, PRC Coast Guard detain vessel in North Pacific Ocean USCGC Alex Haley (WMEC 39) and People's Republic of China Coast Guard crew members uncover an approximately 5.6-mile drift net onboard the fishing vessel Run Da during a joint boarding of the vessel in the North Pacific Ocean, 860 miles east of Hokkaido, Japan, June 16, 2018.The Alex Haley crew transferred custody of the Run Da to the PRC Coast Guard for prosecution. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
A crew member of the USCGC Alex Haley (WMEC 39) stands lookout during a transfer of custody of the detained fishing vessel Run Da with the People's Republic of China Coast Guard in the Sea of Japan, June 21, 2018. The Alex Haley and PRC Coast Guard crews detained the Run Da suspected of illegal high seas drift net fishing. U.S. Coast Guard photo. The crew of the USCGC Alex Haley (WMEC 39) transfers custody of the detained fishing vessel Run Da to a People's Republic of China Coast Guard patrol vessel in the Sea of Japan, June 21, 2018. The Alex Haley and PRC Coast Guard crews detained the Run Da suspected of illegal high seas drift net fishing. U.S. Coast Guard photo. Cmdr. Jon Kreischer (left), commanding officer of the USCGC Alex Haley (WMEC 39), signs over custody of the fishing vessel Run Da to the commanding officer of People's Republic of China Coast Guard Patrol Vessel 2301 in international waters in the Sea of Japan, June 21, 2018. The Alex Haley and PRC Coast Guard crews discovered an illegal drift net banned by international convention during a joint boarding on the vessel. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

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JUNEAU, Alaska – The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley detained the fishing vessel Run Da suspected of illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing activity Saturday in international waters 860 miles east of Hokkaido, Japan.

The crew of the Alex Haley, a 282-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Kodiak, and People’s Republic of China Coast Guard officers conducted a joint international boarding on the high seas of the Chinese-flagged fishing vessel Run Da.

 

A U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak C-130 aircraft, forward deployed on a North Pacific Coast Guard Forum multi-national fisheries enforcement patrol supported by Canada, China, Japan, Russia and the Republic of Korea, sighted the suspected IUU fishing vessel.

 

Upon arriving on scene, the U.S. Coast Guard and PRC Coast Guard conducted a set of pre-boarding questions over VHF-FM radio to confirm fishing activity and nationality. After questioning was complete and clearance to board was obtained from both United States and China, the Alex Haley boarding team deployed to assist the PRC Coast Guard investigation and to document the suspected illegal fishing activity.

 

The fishing vessel is suspected of violating the worldwide driftnet moratorium called for by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 46/215. The captain of the Run Da admitted to fishing with driftnets up to 5.6 miles in length. The joint boarding team discovered one ton of squid and 80 tons of chum salmon on board.

 

The Alex Haley crew transferred custody of the Run Da and its crew Thursday to PRC Coast Guard vessel 2301 in the Sea of Japan approximately 92 miles west of Japan. PRC Coast Guard vessel 2301 will escort the Run Da back to China for prosecution. The PRC has jurisdiction for any enforcement actions taken upon the vessel, master and owner.

 

The joint U.S. and China high seas boarding and inspection was conducted pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on Effective Cooperation and Implementation of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 46/215 of December 20, 1991.

 

The MOU, signed Dec. 3, 1993, established boarding procedures for law enforcement officials of either country to board and inspect U.S. or Chinese-flagged vessels suspected of high seas driftnet fishing. The MOU also established a shiprider program, which permits Chinese fisheries enforcement officials to embark on U.S. Coast Guard vessels or aircraft.

 

China provided 111 enforcement officials to the U.S. Coast Guard for joint fisheries enforcement operations since the MOU first entered into force in 1993. This cooperation led to 22 interdictions and enforcement actions against vessels engaged in large-scale, high seas driftnet fishing activity.

 

“The U.S. Coast Guard is committed to preserving the world’s fragile marine ecosystems, not only to ensure economic prosperity today but to ensure thriving oceans for future generations,” said Capt. Darran McLenon, chief of response for the 17th Coast Guard District. “This case was the first apprehension of a large-scale, high seas driftnet vessel since 2014 and highlights the successful fisheries enforcement cooperation and patrols of the U.S., Canada, China, Japan, Russia and the Republic of Korea, including the force multiplying value of shiprider agreements, which enables joint high seas boarding and inspections to detect and deter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.”

 

The Alex Haley and its 105 crew members are on a North Pacific multi-national fisheries enforcement patrol supported by Canada, China, Japan, Russia and the Republic of Korea. The crew conducts homeland security, search and rescue, and international and domestic fisheries enforcement missions in the Bering Sea and other Alaskan waters.

-USCG-