Boutwell transfers custody of fishing vessels

(Sept. 27, 2007) ONBOARD THE FISHING VESSEL LU RONG YU 1961 - Boarding team members, from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell, stand watch over the Fishing Vessel Lu Rong Yu 1961 after being suspected of illegal fishing. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell escorted the vessel along with an additional Fishing Vessel Zhe Dai Yuan Yu 829, until transferring custody of both vessels to a Chinese Fisheries Law Enforcement Command (FLEC) cutter on Oct. 2. The Boutwell is working with the Chinese FLEC as part of the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum (NPCGF). This six-nation forum was developed to increase international maritime safety and security on the Northern Pacific Ocean and to combat illegal unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Jonathan R. Cilley)