Coast Guard Cracks Down on Illegal Fishing

The U.S. Coast Guard has been actively enforcing maritime laws off the southern U.S. coast, recently detaining 11 Mexican fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico and stopping a sailboat near San Diego with a dozen individuals aboard. The fishermen were intercepted while illegally fishing north of the Maritime Boundary Line, leading to the seizure of nearly 1,600 pounds of red snapper and nine sharks. The Coast Guard's operations involved multiple units, including patrol aircraft and cutters, and highlighted the use of lanchas, slender boats often used for illegal fishing. The detained individuals have been transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for processing. This crackdown is part of a broader effort to deter illegal fishing and trafficking along U.S. waters, with increased resources being allocated to the Gulf of Mexico. Commanding officers have reaffirmed the Coast Guard's commitment to protecting national sovereignty and enforcing maritime laws.