A US Coast Guard Admiral says there's been an increase in illegal fishing activity by foreign vessels in waters around US Pacific territories.
As a result, the US Coast Guard is increasing its patrol missions in the region.
Admiral Sally Brice OHara, who is the Commander of the US Coast Guard 14th District with jurisdiction over Hawaii, Guam, Saipan, Japan, Singapore and American Samoa waters, says there have been recent breaches of American economic zones in the Pacific .
"We recently saw Ecuadorian vessels in the US waters around Howland, Baker and Jarvis Islands. We had a Marshall Islands fishing vessel in Howland and Baker and we actually seized it and it's now being prosecuted for violation of that law."
Admiral Sally Brice OHara
