Ottawa, ON - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has completed its annual patrol of the North Pacific Ocean to detect and deter illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activity and monitor fishing fleets active on the high seas. IUU fishing poses a global threat, undermining fish populations and marine environments, as well as having a significant impact on fair markets and global seafood supply chains. Through strong international partnerships, surveillance by air, sea, and satellite, and coordinated enforcement efforts, Canada is protecting vulnerable fish stocks including wild Pacific salmon while supporting healthy ecosystems and global food security.
DFO's annual mission, referred to as Operation North Pacific Guard (Op. NPG), relied on the skill and expertise of an integrated crew of experts led by DFO fishery officers and supported by the Canadian Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The Canadian patrol also included representatives from the Fisheries Agency of Japan, the United States Coast Guard, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Fishery officers and support personnel patrolled over 23,000 km while onboard the Canadian Coast Guard vessel, the CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier, a high endurance, multi-purpose vessel that is also a light icebreaker and is biofuel capable. Over the course of two months, the expert crew monitored several hundred fishing vessels and conducted 30 high-seas inspections, interacting with over 500 crew members. The team also participated in the rescue of three Canadians from a distressed sailing vessel in the North Pacific which occurred during the patrol.
The high-seas inspections resulted in the detection of 52 potential violations of international fisheries requirements, including shark finning and the use of prohibited gear to catch sharks; misreporting or inaccurate reporting of catch, bycatch, and discards, including prohibited species; as well as several violations for failing to protect seabirds while setting fishing gear.
Canada also led daily aerial patrols out of Hokkaido, Japan, monitoring fishing activity the Northwest Pacific. A total of 344 fishing vessels were inspected by air and 21 potential violations were detected related to shark finning, illegal killing of dolphins, pollution, and marking requirements. Canadian inspectors delivering air patrols were joined by enforcement staff from the Fisheries Agency of Japan and Korea Coast Guard.
In addition to the mission's enforcement activities, officials from Canada and Japan exchanged operational findings and coordinated joint monitoring, control, and inspection activities. This builds on the commitments made by the Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada and Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae of Japan on March 6, 2026, under three Memoranda of Cooperation aimed at further strengthening collaboration between Canada and Japan in maritime security, including against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the North Pacific.
