An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | March 21, 2023

U.S. Coast Guard, Federated States of Micronesia National Police Conduct at-sea Engagements to Combat Illegal Fishing, Strengthen Skills

By Chief Warrant Officer Sara Muir U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia / Sector

SANTA RITA, Guam -- The U.S. Coast Guard (USCGC) and Federated States of Micronesia National Police conducted a successful at-sea engagement to combat illegal fishing in Yap State on March 16, 2023.

The crews of USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) and the FSS Tosiwo Nakayama (P901) conducted a joint patrol near Yap State in support of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency's (FFA) Operation 365, part of the FFA's regional monitoring control and surveillance operations to stop illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the Pacific.

"The crew enjoyed conducting a professional exchange including navigation and seamanship training during a close-quarters formation steaming with our colleagues aboard the FSS Tosiwo Nakayama before they pulled into Yap," said Lt. Freddy Hofschneider, commanding officer of the Oliver Henry.

The Tosiwo Nakayama is currently FSM's only active Guardian-class patrol boat. Under the Australian Pacific Maritime Security Program, Australia is delivering 22 Guardian-class Patrol Boats to 12 Pacific Island nations and Timor-Lesté. They also provide additional training to enable nations to make the most out of this capability.

The FSM is a sovereign nation with full diplomatic relations, deep ties, and a cooperative relationship with the United States. They participate in an amended Compact of Free Association with the U.S., under which the FSM and the United States agreed that the U.S. has full authority and responsibility for defense and security matters relating to the FSM. Many FSM citizens also live, work, and study in the U.S. and voluntarily serve in the U.S. Armed Forces at per capita rates higher than many U.S. states.

"The ongoing partnership between the FSM and the U.S. Coast Guard seeks to enhance FSM's sovereignty and capability to combat illicit maritime activity, particularly illegal fishing, to the benefit of all Pacific partners but with a focus on the people of the FSM and their economic and food security needs," said Capt. Nick Simmons, commander of U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam. "We appreciate the efforts of the National Police, the U.S. Embassy, and our Australian Pacific Maritime Security Program partners to make these shared multilateral operations possible to increase regional security and prosperity."

The crew also leveraged time underway while on patrol in the FSM Exclusive Economic Zone for maintenance, Basic Engineering Casualty Control Exercises or BECCEs, and cutter boat training. The crew is on a four-week expeditionary patrol throughout Western Oceania.

The Oliver Henry is the 40th 154-foot Sentinel-class fast response cutter named for Oliver T. Henry, Jr., an enlisted African American Coast Guard member first to break the color barrier of a then-segregated Service.

It homeports in Guam, working with U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam, which comprises nearly 300 personnel to provide a significant portion of the U.S. Coast Guard's enduring regional presence in Oceania.

Operation 365 is the Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre's overarching plan for Regional Monitoring Control and Surveillance operations. OP365 provides comprehensive support to regional surveillance and enforcement efforts in Pacific Island Countries on an ongoing basis. OP365 requires the concerted and consistent effort of all 17 Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency member nations and the four members of the Pacific Quadrilateral Defence Coordination Group countries, Australia, France, New Zealand, and the United States, to be successful.

CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM
Facebook

Like Us
Twitter
342,728
Follow Us

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
U.S., Japanese Defense Leaders Discuss Progress on Closer Alliance
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada answer questions during a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, June 1, 2023. The visit comes as the United States and Japan take important strides to modernize Alliance capabilities, optimize U.S. force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic U.S.-Japan “2+2” Ministerial meeting earlier this year. (DoD photo by Chad J. McNeeley)
June 2, 2023 - WASHINGTON -- U.S. and Japanese defense leaders are "operationalizing" agreements that are deepening the treaty alliance, said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada in...

Red Flag Alaska 23-2 Kicks 0ff Soon to Enhance Multinational Interoperability
June 2, 2023 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Red Flag-Alaska 23-2, a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored exercise, is scheduled to begin on June 12 with primary flight operations over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex and is...

U.S., Philippine, Japan Coast Guards to Conduct Trilateral Engagements
Philippine Coast Guard servicemembers play music as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752) arrives in Manila, Philippines, for a tri-lateral engagement with the Philippine and Japan Coast Guards, June 1, 2023. Stratton deployed to the Western Pacific under U.S. Navy 7th Fleet command to serve as a non-escalatory asset for the promotion of a rules-based order in the maritime domain by engaging with partner nations and allies in the region. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Matt Masaschi)
June 2, 2023 - MANILA, Philippines -- The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752) and crew arrived in Manila on Thursday to conduct professional exchanges and joint operations with members of the Philippine and Japan Coast Guards during...

USS Shoup Departs Sendai, Japan
CDR. Dale Tourtelotte, Commanding Officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) speaks at the welcome ceremony hosted by the Miyagi Defense Association. Shoup is assigned to Commander, Task Force 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s Principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Operations Specialist 3rd class Dominik Camooso)
June 2, 2023 - SENDAI, Japan -- The forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) departed Sendai, Japan after a port visit, June 1.The Yokosuka-based destroyer visit marks the first U.S. Navy ship visit...

USecAF Tours Indo-Pacific to Ensure Resourcing Decisions Align with Strategy, Mission
U.S. Air Force Gen. Ken Wilsbach, Pacific Air Forces commander, Kristyn Jones, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, performing the duties of under secretary of the Air Force, and U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. David Wolfe, PACAF command chief, stand together for a photo at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, May 3, 2023. Jones directs the development of the Air Force program and budget, oversees the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency's acquisition and operational cost analysis, provides analytical services, and conducts Air Force accounting and finance operations. During her visit, she met with PACAF leaders to better understand PACAF’s overall infrastructure and mission opportunities and challenges relative to the Pacing Challenge and how PACAF competes, deters, and wins in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Nick Wilson)
June 2, 2023 - ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Honorable Kristyn Jones, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, performing the duties of under secretary of the Air Force, toured the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command...