Western and Central Pacific Longline and Purse Seine Vessels - Observer Emergency Contacts
Observer emergency contacts for vessel owners, operators, and observers on U.S. commercial fishing vessels fishing for highly migratory species in the western and central Pacific Ocean.
Observer Emergencies
For emergency situations that need an immediate response, contact the U.S. Coast Guard.
U.S. Coast Guard
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is the point of contact for emergency situations that need an immediate USCG search and rescue or law enforcement response. Thus, in emergency situations that need an immediate response, vessel owners and operators are encouraged to call the nearest U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centers (RCC), which can help coordinate with the closest Search and Rescue (SAR) facility in the area of the vessel.
U.S. Coast Guard RCCs for western and central Pacific Ocean waters
RCC |
Location |
Area of SAR Coordination Responsibility |
Phone Number |
---|---|---|---|
RCC Honolulu |
Commander |
Hawaii, U.S. Pacific Islands and waters of Central Pacific Ocean assigned by international convention (extending from as far as 6 degrees south to 40 degrees north latitude and as far as 110 west to 130 east longitude). |
(808) 535-3333 |
Sector Guam
|
Commander Sector Guam |
Guam and other U.S. territories and possessions in the far western Pacific Ocean. |
(671) 355-4824 |
Pacific SAR Coordinator | Commander U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area Alameda, California | Overall responsibility for areas covered by RCC Alameda, RCC Seattle, RCC Honolulu and RCC Juneau | (510) 437-3701 |
Reporting Observer Serious Illness
For reporting incidents of serious illness that threatens the health or safety of a WCPFC observer on board a fishing vessel, contact the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement:
NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
Available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
- If a vessel is located east of 150° W, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement West Coast Division Duty Officer line at telephone: (206) 526-4851.
- If a vessel is located west of 150° W: NOAA Office of Law Enforcement Pacific Islands Division Duty Officer line at telephone: (808) 725-6133.
Reporting Observer Assault, Intimidation, Threats, or Harassments
For reporting incidents of assault, intimidation, threat or harassment of a fisheries observer, contact both the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement and the fisheries observer program from which the observer was deployed.
NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
Available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
- If a vessel is located east of 150° W, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement West Coast Division Duty Officer line at telephone: (206) 526-4851.
- If a vessel is located west of 150° W: NOAA Office of Law Enforcement Pacific Islands Division Duty Officer line at telephone: (808) 725-6133.
Observer Programs
- NOAA Fisheries, American Samoa Port Coordinator
Steve Kostelnik
Phone: (684)633-5325
Email: steve.kostelnik@noaa.gov - NOAA Fisheries, Hawaii Port Coordinator
Josee Vincent
Phone: (808) 321-9183
Email: jvincent@lynkertech.com - NOAA Fisheries, West Coast Highly Migratory Specie Longline Observer Program
Charles Villafana
Phone: (562) 980-4033
Email: charles.villafana@noaa.gov - Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Observer Program
Philip Lens
Phone: +677.21.124, Extension: 242
Email: Philip.Lens@ffa.int - Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) Purse Seine Observer Program
Ernesto Altamirano
Phone: 858-546-7040
Email: altamirano@iattc.org
Phone: 858-546-7100
Email: ObsContact@iattc.org