Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has launched Operation North Pacific Guard (Op. NPG), a mission to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the North Pacific Ocean for a fourth time.
Op. NPG will include 15 DFO fishery officers on land and four DFO officers conducting air surveillance in Japan. A Canadian fishery officer will also join Japan’s patrol vessel as a ship rider, according to a release by the Canadian government.
The mission has support from the Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, according to a government release, and includes representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA, Fisheries Agency of Japan, and Republic of Korea Coast Guard. Personnel will patrol over 15,000 kilometers of high seas aboard Canadian Coast Guard Ship Sir Wilfrid Laurier, which is a “high endurance, multi-purpose, biofuel-capable vessel.”
“Maritime security is not just the responsibility of one country,” Canadian Minister of National Defense David J. McGuinty said. “It requires a joint effort of like-minded nations to reinforce international law. By working together with Japan, Canada is advancing international security and commitments under the Indo-Pacific Strategy while also exchanging vital expertise.”
During the two-month operation, fishery officers will board and inspect fishing vessels in the high seas to detect IUU fishing and ensure regulations are in compliance. Canada will also deploy a long-range fisheries aerial surveillance and enforcement aircraft to Hokkaido, Japan, for daily aerial patrols in partner countries. These air patrols have previously aided catching conservation violations such as shark finning, harpooning dolphins, salmon pollution, and violations of vessel marking in Canada.
“The Canada-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced by Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Takaichi in March recognized the importance of working together on maritime security and called for both countries to increase information sharing, reciprocal support for each other’s patrols, and training cooperation,” Canada’s Ambassador to Japan and Special Envoy to the Indo-Pacific Ian G. McKay said. “Through the annual deployment of Canadian assets and personnel under Op. NPG, Canada is translating these commitments into concrete action by deepening coordination and interoperability with Japan and other regional partners.”
If potential violations are found, they will remain confidentially flagged for investigation, and sanctions may be reviewed and passed out by international regional fisheries management organizations depending on severity.
The Canadian government added that IUU fishing accounts for about 30 percent of all fishing activity worldwide and threatens national and international fish stocks, with negative consequences for fair markets and global seafood supply chains. In Canada, climate change is already adding pressure to vulnerable fish stocks such as wild Pacific salmon, and IUU fishing is worsening that vulnerability.
“Healthy fish stocks are crucial for food security, economic resilience, and the livelihoods of coastal and Indigenous communities in Canada and around the world,” Canadian Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson said. “Protecting them requires strong enforcement and close international cooperation. Through Operation North Pacific Guard, Canada is advancing responsible stewardship as a trusted convening partner to combat illegal and unsustainable fishing practices and support the long-term sustainability of our oceans.”
Op. NPG was first deployed in 2019 and is funded by the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative, the release said, having received CAD 412.9 million (USD 296.3 million, EUR 256.5 million) through “A Force of Nature: Canada’s Strategy to Protect Nature” since its inception.
