Canada: Coast guard mission in North Pacific targets illegal fishers

Operation North Pacific Guard, a joint Canadian-US initiative, saw a Canadian Coast Guard ship, Sir Wilfred Laurier, patrol the North Pacific to enforce international fishing rules. The two-month operation covered 20,000 kilometres, inspecting 15 international vessels for illegal activities like shark finning, undeclared catches, and unmarked boats. It also enforced the new ban on Pacific salmon retention. Despite facing logistical challenges, the operation succeeded in documenting marine pollution and uncovering cases of illegal fishing, with a significant seizure of undersized Pacific saury. The Sir Wilfred Laurier's refit to use a greener fuel blend and its role in scientific research underscore its multifaceted capabilities in enforcement, environmental monitoring, and scientific exploration.

Canada has flexed some muscle in the North Pacific, catching bad actors who continue killing sharks for their fins and others that take species that are out of season and key to the survival of B.C. salmon. For the first time, a Canadian Coast Guard ship and fisheries officers led a mission to crack down on fishing fleets beyond the 200-nautical-mile limit that aren’t playing by international rules. Operation North Pacific Guard, a two-month mission aboard the Victoria-based Sir Wilfred Laurier, covered more than 20,000 kilometres and involved armed Canadian fisheries authorities and other partners, including U.S. counterparts, boarding 15 international vessels. Canadian fisheries officers were part of an international mission last year aboard a contracted ship with international partners and have been part of aerial reconnaissance for decades in the region. But this was the first time a Canadian Coast Guard ship led the effort. The crew documented several cases of marine ...