Coast Guard inspectors return from Bristol Bay in support of salmon season opening, law enforcement teams remain

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 06/26/2020 02:15 PM EDT

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News Release

  

U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska
Contact: 17th District Public Affairs
Office: (907) 428-4181
After Hours: (907) 654-4112
17th District online newsroom

Coast Guard inspectors return from Bristol Bay in support of salmon season opening, law enforcement teams remain 

Coast Guard Marine Safety Task Force inspectors and law enforcement teams deploy to the Bristol Bay, Alaska, region to conduct commercial fishing vessel safety exams, fuel facility inspections, and law enforcement patrols June 15-21, 2020 before the Bristol Bay salmon fishing season opening. All members tested negative for COVID-19 before the deployment and quarantined in accordance with state health mandates. U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 1st Class Nate Littlejohn.

A Coast Guard marine inspector with Sector Anchorage issues a decal indicating that the vessel Miss Avena passed a commercial fishing vessel safety exam in Levelock, Alaska, June 16, 2020. Displaying this decal on the Miss Avena will assure Coast Guard law enforcement officers on the water that the vessel is in compliance with federal safety laws. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Nate Littlejohn Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Holly Hugunin, a marine inspector with Sector Anchorage, inspects an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon during a commercial fishing vessel safety exam aboard the Endurance in Ugashik, Alaska, June 18, 2020. Coast Guard inspectors with Sector Anchorage’s Marine Safety Task Force conducted inspections throughout the Bristol Bay region June 9-26 to prepare the salmon fishing fleet for a safe season. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Nate LittlejohnCoast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Para Upchurch (right), a marine inspector with Sector Anchorage, inspects a survival suit as part of a commercial fishing vessel safety exam for the Miss Avena in Levelock, Alaska, June 16, 2020. Coast Guard inspectors with Sector Anchorage’s Marine Safety Task Force conducted inspections throughout the Bristol Bay region June 9-26 to prepare the salmon fishing fleet for a safe season. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Nate Littlejohn Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Jondalar Goodwin (left), a marine inspector at Sector Anchorage, provides a commercial fishing vessel safety exam aboard the Steffie G in Naknek, Alaska, June 15, 2020. Coast Guard inspectors with Sector Anchorage’s Marine Safety Task Force conducted inspections throughout the Bristol Bay region June 9-25 to prepare the salmon fishing fleet for a safe season. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Nate Littlejohn

Editors' Note: Click on images to download high resolution version.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Coast Guard inspectors returned to Anchorage Friday after a two-week deployment to Bristol Bay, conducting missions in support of the region's commercial fishing season that kicked off Thursday.

 

Coast Guard law enforcement teams are to conduct safety boardings and enforce laws on the water.

 

Inspectors conducted a total of 372 dockside examinations of commercial fishing vessels in multiple communities within the region, including, but not limited to King Salmon, Dillingham, Naknek, South Naknek, Pilot Point, Ugashik, Platinum, Port Heiden, Levelock and Egegik.

 

Examiners addressed safety issues that were present, but did not issue fines or other penalties for any discrepencies they discovered at the dock. The exams focused on safety and addressed items such as flares, charts, navigational signals, fire extinguishers, emergency position indicating radio beacons and the serviceability of immersion suits. Each vessel that passed a dockside exam earned a decal.

 

"These examinations were free, took about half an hour, ensured compliance with all federal regulations and reduced the likelihood of having a safety-related issue and/or getting boarded at sea," said Russ Hazlett, fishing vessel safety examiner from Sector Anchorage.

 

"We relied on the Civil Air Patrol for transportation during this deployment," said Lt. Cmdr. Jereme Altendorf, an emergency management specialist at Sector Anchorage. "While in these remote communities of Western Alaska, we also inspected bulk fuel facilities. Despite the pandemic this year, the Bristol Bay salmon fishery is still open, remote communities are still using fuel and oil spills are still a threat. We're doing everything we can to prevent accidents while at the same time preventing the spread of COVID-19."

 

Each Coast Guard member was tested for COVID-19 before deploying, followed by appropriate quarantine procedures. Inspectors wore protective equipment in accordance with state health mandates and practiced social distancing.

-USCG-