. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. gress and the president expanded the Coast Guard's authority to in- clude enforcement of environmen- tal, fishery conservation, pollution, maritime defense and safety laws. And last year, Congress increased the Coast Guard's duties again when it passed the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act of 1988. The act was passed to bet- ter safety equipment and proce- dures aboard commercial fishing boats. When the act's regulations are finalized in 1991, they should save lives, standardize safety procedur
. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. gress and the president expanded the Coast Guard's authority to in- clude enforcement of environmen- tal, fishery conservation, pollution, maritime defense and safety laws. And last year, Congress increased the Coast Guard's duties again when it passed the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act of 1988. The act was passed to bet- ter safety equipment and proce- dures aboard commercial fishing boats. When the act's regulations are finalized in 1991, they should save lives, standardize safety procedures, decrease insurance premiums and reduce liability suits. But the law's passage means even more rules, regulations and laws for Coast Guard officers to know and understand. Even now when the Coast Guard stops a vessel, its boarding officers check for safety offenses, fishing infrac- tions, contraband and environmen- tal violations. "You name it; we do it all on the water," says Master Chief Petty Of- ficer Wayne Gray, a fourth-genera- tion Coast Guardsman stationed at Oregon Inlet. Gray, an Avon native, enlisted in the Coast Guard 31 years ago and has seen the Coast Guard swing its focus from search and rescue to law enforcement. "Today we spend 60 percent of our time enforcing laws," Gray says. Phillips says the Coast Guard's emphasis to the public on proper training, equipment and safety has reduced the need for search and rescue. Also the advent of sophisti- cated navigation systems and better weather information has helped more vessels avoid mishaps. But that doesn't mean the Coast Guard doesn't answer distress calls. It does. But if neither boaters nor their vessels are in danger, guardsmen refer them to towing companies or nearby boaters for aid. "By not answering non-emer- gency calls, we save tax dollars," Ward says. "We don't have unlim- ited boats and personnel, so it is best not to tie up our search-and- rescue vessels unless ther
Size: 2465px × 1014px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookcollectionunclibra, booksubjectoceanography
