Canada Initiates High Seas Mission to Combat Illegal Fishing in the North Pacific

On October 1, 2024, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced the launch of a high seas mission aimed at detecting and deterring illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the North Pacific. This mission, named Operation North Pacific Guard (Op.NPG), is part of Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy and involves a multinational effort to coordinate fisheries enforcement to protect global fish stocks.

The operation will be led by DFO fishery officers and supported by personnel from the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), as well as officers from the United States Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The mission will cover over 7,500 kilometers, utilizing the CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier, a high endurance vessel capable of conducting various operations, including high seas boardings and inspections under international law.

During the mission, fishery officers will also collect environmental data and water samples to enhance understanding of the high seas environment, including monitoring Pacific salmon migration and microplastic levels in the water. Additionally, aerial surveillance operations will be conducted from Hokkaido, Japan, to monitor the Northwest Pacific.

This year's mission marks the first port visit of a CCG vessel to Japan and the first use of a blend of biodiesel and renewable diesel, contributing to the CCG's efforts to reduce its environmental footprint. The operation is supported by funding from the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative, which focuses on conservation and protection efforts for Pacific salmon stocks.