NOAA 95-130
Contact: Gene Proulx FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(310) 980-4050 6/14/95
Scott Smullen
(301) 713-2370
A satellite tracking system used to monitor the location and operation of certain fishing vessels in the Western Pacific ocean is responsible for federal agents catching a longline vessel June 7 that was illegally fishing in the protected habitat of the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, the Commerce Departmentþs National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced today.
This is the first satellite detection of a longline fishing vessel allegedly fishing in violation of the Magnuson Fishery and Conservation Act since the regulation mandating the vessel monitoring system for the Hawaiian longline fishery went into effect in October, 1994. It is also the first ever detection of unlawful longline fishing within the protected species zone.
"High-tech tracking of fishing vessels fitted with these satellite monitoring devices makes our job of enforcing U.S. fishing laws easier and more effective," said Gene Proulx, National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Enforcement Chief.
From a satellite monitoring station in Honolulu, an enforcement agent of NOAAþs fisheries service discovered the longliner Sea Dragon in the closed area, more than 1,000 miles away, displaying activities characteristic of a vessel conducting fishing operations. The fisheries service enforcement agent alerted the U.S. Coast Guard to the possible violation and scrambled a USCG vessel on patrol in the area of the Sea Dragon.
Around 9:30 p.m. on June 7, the Coast Guard Cutter Assateague boarded the Honolulu-based Sea Dragon as it was detected more than eight miles into the 50-mile Hawaiian monk seal Endangered Species Zone that surrounds Lisianski Island, 1,000 miles northwest of Oahu. The 70-foot long Sea Dragon had 13 miles of longline gear in the water. Additionally, the Sea Dragon had nearly 10,000 pounds of swordfish and tuna on board.
The logbooks of the Sea Dragon were seized and the vessel was ordered back to Honolulu for possible seizure of catch and further investigation by fisheries service enforcement agents. The fisheries service agents monitored by satellite the unescorted return of the Sea Dragon until its arrival in Honolulu on Tuesday.
"Satellite monitoring is crucial to cost-efficient management of marine fisheries," Proulx added. "Vessels are being effectively monitored for about one dollar per vessel per day in communications costs. Compare that to the high cost of surveillance aircraft, and you begin to understand the importance of technology in modern fisheries management."
The technology is based on the nation's Global Positioning Satellite system. Vessels are tracked through a transceiver unit placed on each longline fishing vessel. The unit transmits a secure position report via the INMARSAT satellite system telling fisheries service enforcement officials in the Honolulu base station the position, course, and speed of the monitored vessel.
The satellite monitoring system is being tested as a fisheries management tool in the Western Pacific longline fishery that targets highly migratory fish species of tuna and swordfish. The longline fishery in the Western Pacific has more than 85 vessels installed with the small transponder as part of an experimental program designed to determine the effectiveness of this technology.
Longlining is a method of fishing in which a long fishing line is set with shorter lines to which baited hooks are attached. This line is used to fish at the surface or near the bottom of the ocean, and may be anchored, floating or attached to a vessel.
Found only around the northwest Hawaiian islands, the Hawaiian monk seal was listed as endangered in 1976. The fisheries service estimates that there are fewer than 1,500 animals, and the population is thought to be decreasing.