NOAA Fisheries enforcement officers join international partners in Operation North Pacific Guard to combat illegal fishing, protect marine life, and ensure a fair market for U.S. fishermen.

Enforcement officers from NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement have successfully wrapped up deployments for Operation North Pacific Guard, an annual international mission targeting illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing on the high seas. 

The officers, who used their specialized experience to support the operation, patrolled over 8,000 nautical miles aboard the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Sir Wilfrid Laurier. They used their authorities under international law to conduct dozens of fishing vessel boardings and inspections and documented numerous violations of conservation management measures, including shark finning, possession of endangered species, and failure to accurately report catch. The potential violations were confidentially flagged for further investigation to the involved vessels’ flag states and the relevant Regional Fisheries Management Organizations.

The officers deployed alongside international partners including the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the United States Coast Guard, the Fisheries Agency of Japan, and the Republic of Korea Coast Guard.

IUU fishing threatens global fish stocks and the broader ocean ecosystem and impacts economic and food security. It also puts law-abiding fishermen and seafood producers in the United States and abroad at a disadvantage.

Deploying NOAA Fisheries enforcement officers to Operation North Pacific Guard directly supports Executive Order 14276, Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. Frontline officers combat threats to U.S. seafood competitiveness and protect markets from unfair trade practices by keeping illegally caught seafood out of the supply chain. 

“The dedication of our officers ensures that sustainable fishing practices are upheld on a global scale,“ said Benjamin Cheeseman, Assistant Director, NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement, Alaska Division. “Their work on the high seas directly protects the integrity of the oceans and the livelihoods of honest fishermen back home.“

NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement protects marine wildlife and habitat by enforcing domestic laws and international treaty obligations. We ensure a level playing field for regulated industries, defend U.S. economic and public health interests, and safeguard marine resources for future generations.