Ranking Members Larsen, Carbajal Statements from Hearing on Coast Guard Drug Interdiction, Migration and Illegal Fishing Enforcement

Press Release

"Thank you, Chair Webster and Ranking Member Carbajal, for holding this important hearing where we'll focus on the Coast Guard's essential law enforcement missions: drug interdiction, IUU fishing, and migration enforcement.

At a time when the Coast Guard is facing a personnel shortage and impacted operations, it is important for the Committee to take a closer look into how we can best help the Coast Guard succeed.

In fiscal year 2022, the Coast Guard interdicted nearly 335,710 pounds of cocaine at sea--preventing it from reaching the U.S. Unfortunately, that number, while significant, only reflects 5.4 percent of the known maritime drug flow.

This 5.4 percent rate is a substantial decrease from the annual target of 10 percent interdiction.

While this shortfall is partially due to better intelligence giving us a more accurate understanding of the maritime drug flow, it is also the result of personnel constraints and decreased asset availability due to diversion to other missions.

Improved intelligence combined with emerging technologies, like artificial intelligence and unmanned systems, are promising tools the Coast Guard can leverage to improve these interdiction rates--but ultimately, the Service needs more resources.

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, also known as IUU fishing, is a serious threat that has vast security, economic, environmental and humanitarian impacts.

In 2020, the Coast Guard called IUU fishing the 'leading global maritime security threat.'

IUU fishing includes foreign vessels fishing in another country's territorial waters, violation of international conservation laws or tracking requirements and failure to report catches to proper authorities; often taking advantage of developing countries.

Annually, IUU fishing costs the global seafood industry between $26 billion and $50 billion.

Not only does it lead to overfishing of vulnerable fish populations and destroy essential habitats but it also threatens global food security.

Further, forced labor and human trafficking often occur on IUU fishing vessels, only raising the importance of enforcement.

China's distant water fishing fleet is the largest perpetrator of IUU fishing, using predatory fishing practices around the world, violating the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and failing to regulate vessels that repeatedly violate the law. China also uses its influence and subsidies to influence poorer countries to turn a blind eye to IUU practices taking place in their territorial waters.

The Coast Guard plays a vital role in preventing IUU fishing within U.S. waters and the waters of partner nations. International partnerships are key in enabling the Coast Guard to assist other nations that lack enforcement capabilities.

Congress and international bodies like the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization can do more to combat IUU fishing.

Without adequate resources and funding for the Coast Guard, these missions will suffer.

The Coast Guard is facing one of the worst personnel shortages in their history. As the personnel shortage approaches 3,000 enlisted members, every Coast Guard mission will be impacted. The personnel most lacking--servicemembers that work on cutters, boat crew, engineers--are necessary to ensure that Coast Guard law enforcement missions do not falter.

For too long, the Coast Guard has done more with less, but this is not sustainable. This cannot continue. To have the Coast Guard this country needs, we must invest in Coasties by providing the Coast Guard with resources for effective recruiting and to repair crumbling infrastructure affecting recruits, cadets, Coasties and their families.

Today I'd like to hear from the Coast Guard about what Congress can do to help dig the Service out of its personnel deficit. Impacts to search and rescue, drug and migrant interdiction and IUU fishing should come as a wakeup call--more funding is needed.

Thank you to our witnesses for their contribution to today's hearing and working with us to make the Coast Guard the best it can be."

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