A Honolulu-based fishing vessel returned to port Saturday because of allegations of illegal fishing in protected waters of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, the U.S. Coast Guard said today.

An air crew aboard a Coast Guard C-130 long-range search plane from Air Station Barbers Point twice documented the U.S.-flagged vessel fishing in a “special preservation area” inside the Monument on June 15.
The air crew spotted the bottom fish vessel at midday and shot video and still photos that show the fishing vessel crew hauling its lines out of the water and abruptly getting under way. The air crew then flew over the horizon out of sight and returned to find the fishing vessel crew had put its lines back in the water and allegedly had resumed fishing.
After it was informed by the Coast Guard of the vessel’s activities, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement coordinated with the air crew to immediately end the fishing trip and directed the vessel back to Honolulu for boarding and further investigation.
The fishing vessel crew arrived in Honolulu Saturday morning after a five-day trip.