Three Coast Guardsmen are aboard a U.S. Navy ship on a voyage west of Hawaii to enforce rules governing fishing in federal waters.

The Coast Guardsmen are aboard the USS Crommelin guided-missile frigate, which left Pearl Harbor yesterday for the western and central Pacific Ocean.

It is part of the Coast Guard's efforts to boost enforcement of fishing laws.

The guardsmen will be able to board and inspect ships suspected of fishing illegally. Navy sailors don't have the authority to board suspect ships.

Federal waters in the area include those around American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Johnston Atoll.