September 20, 2019 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
Each year the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council presents its Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award to recognize enforcement personnel that exceed their duty requirements to enforce fisheries regulations in federal waters off the coasts of the Carolinas, Georgia and the east coast of Florida. “The Council recognizes the important role that law enforcement personnel play in effective fisheries management,” said Council Chair Jessica McCawley. “Both at the state and federal level, enforcement officers not only enforce fisheries regulations but often act as ambassadors, providing information and educating fishermen and others on a daily basis. This annual award allows us to acknowledge those who go the extra mile – those who demonstrate teamwork, effective communication with the public, excellence and innovation, leadership, and conduct that reflects honesty and fairness.”
For the first time, this year’s award was presented not to an individual but to the twelve active duty crew members of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter CORMORANT, an 87-foot Coastal Patrol Boat homeported in Charleston, South Carolina. The crew, consisting of four Boarding Officers, two Boarding Team Members, and two Living Marine Resource boarding officers, exemplify the criteria outlined for the award. The crew conducts a wide array of enforcement missions including search and rescue, counter narcotics, migrant interdiction, and Presidential security zones, as well as living marine resources enforcement and commercial fishing vessel inspections from Little River, South Carolina to Cumberland Island, Georgia. The award was made during the Council’s quarterly meeting this week in Charleston.