The Coast Guard cutter Munro and its crew returned to their home port in Kodiak on Sunday after completing a long North Pacific Ocean patrol where they conducted operations to interdict vessels engaged in illegal fishing.

The more than 80 day patrol that took place in the North Pacific, was a partnership between United States Coast Guard, the Russian Federal security service, the Japanese Coast Guard, and the Chinese Fisheries Law Enforcement Command.

The international partnership targeted vessels conducting high seas drift net operations using miles long monofilament nets.

The international operation sighted at least 600 vessels as they conducted their fisheries enforcement boardings making sure the high seas vessels and crews were in compliance with international regulations. During their operation, the Munro also conducted cultural exchanges with three partner nations representatives. This was done to share best practices as well as to streamline communication processes as the international partners continue to conduct law-enforcement activity on the high seas.

“Our crewmembers enjoyed the opportunity for the cultural exchanges as well as the opportunity to broaden horizons and help build lasting ties between the three nations,” said Lt. Greg Isbell, operations officer, aboard Munro. “Interaction with our partners was a welcome addition to crew’s day to day routines.”

As a result of these annual joint patrols several vessels have been interdicted and turned over to fisheries agencies in China and the U.S. for prosecution. These vessels include the 140-foot Bangun Perkasa operating off the coast of Japan in 2011 and the 177-foot fishing vessel Da Cheng 850 miles east of Tokyo in 2012.

Alaska’s only high endurance cutter, the Monroe, with its crew of over 150 people, performs security missions, law enforcement, and search and rescue throughout the North Pacific Ocean.