Illegal fishing in Western and Central Pacific targeted by US Coast Guard, international partners

U.S. Coast Guard and several international partners recently completed a 3-month operation in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean aimed at safeguarding marine resources of Pacific Island nations by combating illegal fishing.

Operation Nasse is conducted annually by the United States and its other Pacific Quadrilateral Defence Coordination Group partners Australia, France, New Zealand to monitor and respond to illegal fishing activity on the high seas.

They were also joined this year by Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands during the operation from May to July.

Operation Nasse covered more than 6.54 million square nautical miles, resulting in:

• 80 aerial sightings of fishing vessels.
• 31 high seas boardings.
• 39 potential violations reported, which were referred to the relevant flag state.

U.S. Coast Guard Oceania District hosted the joint coordination center for Operation Nasse at Coast Guard Base Honolulu, synchronizing aerial and sea assets in targeted high seas areas.

“This multi-national operation is integral to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Pacific Ocean,” said Operation Nasse Joint Coordination Center Commander Lt. Cmdr. Mary Kate Wheeler in a release about the operation’s completion. “Protecting marine resources, ensuring sustainable fisheries and safeguarding the livelihood of Pacific Island nations all contribute to stability within the region.”

Courtesy Video: U.S. Coast Guard

Assets deployed by participating nations included:

• Medium endurance cutter USCGC Harriet Lane (WMEC 903).
• New South Wales Police Force Offshore Patrol Vessel Nemesis.
• French Navy ships Auguste Benebig and Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai.
• Gardian aircraft from the French Armed Forces in New Caledonia.
• A P8-A from the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
• A King Air airplane from the Pacific Islands Forum Fishing Agency.

Operation Nasse is aimed at improving the understanding of fishing practices and compliance issues, accuracy of regional fishing activity data and health assessment of key fish stocks, especially South Pacific albacore.

It also aids in the practical application and enforcement of international fisheries conservation and management measures.

Collaboration like this empowers the U.S. Coast Guard and partners to eradicate threats to prosperity and promote safety and sovereignty in the Pacific region.

Other partner agencies that participated or collaborated in Operation Nasse include:

• Australian Fisheries Management Authority.
• Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency.
• Ministry for Primary Industries.
• French Armed Forces.
• Marine nationale.
• FANC Forces Armées en Nouvelle-Calédonie.
• Royal New Zealand Air Force.
• U.S. Embassy Suva.
• U.S. Embassy France.
• US Embassy New Zealand.
• U.S. Embassy-Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

“We are grateful to our Pacific partners for their invaluable contributions and close coordination through every step of this mission,” Wheeler said.