Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has completed the latest iteration of Operation North Pacific Guard, an annual patrol of international waters meant to stop and discourage illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
“Protecting fish stocks does not stop at our borders. Canada has taken a key role in the fight against illegal fishing, and I am proud of the fishery officers and Canadian Coast Guard crews carrying out this mission across the Pacific with our international partners. This work protects our investments under the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative to restore wild Pacific salmon and the ecosystems they depend on,” Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson said in a release.
The mission was led by DFO officers with support from the Canadian Coast Guard, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Fisheries Agency of Japan, the United States Coast Guard, and NOAA.
As part of the mission, the CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier patrolled 23,000 kilometers over a two-month stretch, conducting 30 high-seas inspections and detecting 52 potential violations of international fishing rules.
Separately, daily aerial patrols conducted from Hokkaido, Japan, resulted in 344 inspections of fishing vessels and another 21 potential violations.
“Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing threatens the security of our oceans and the resources that coastal communities depend on,” Minister of National Defense David McGuinty said in a release. “Operation North Pacific Guard demonstrates the strength of Canada’s partnerships in addressing these threats and enforcing the rules that keep our waters safe. I thank Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard, the RCMP, and our international partners for carrying out this mission with skill and professionalism. During the patrol, the Canadian Coast Guard also brought three Canadians in distress safely home, a reminder of its unwavering commitment to safety at sea.”
