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Commercial Fisheries News
Volume 35 Number 1
September 2007
Joint US/Canada enforcement operation reveals no gear wars
BOSTON, MA – The US Coast Guard and Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) launched a joint patrol in late July and laid the foundation for what are expected to become regular coordinated patrols along the maritime border between the two countries.
Dubbed “Operation Casper,” the joint effort was focused around Grand Manan Channel, Machias Seal Island, the Hague Line, and Head Harbor Passage, and included the so-called “Gray Zone,” according to information provided by the Coast Guard First District.
About 40 out of the approximately 50 vessels boarded during the six-day operation were commercial fishing boats. Boarding parties identified some safety violations, such as expired flares and missing or incorrect placards, but nothing major.
“We were actually really satisfied with the level of compliance with the regulations,” said PA2 Lauren Downs on Aug. 1. “No violations were found that were significant enough to terminate a voyage.”
Downs confirmed that the disputed Gray Zone was targeted during the joint operation, with three DFO patrol craft and three Coast Guard patrol craft in the area on July 27.
The Gray Zone is a 110-square-mile area located about 10 miles from Cutler, ME and about 12 miles southwest of the Southwest Head of Grand Manan Island, which is part of the Canadian province of New Brunswick.
Lobstermen from both countries fish in the area and, in July, news reports were circulated in the Canadian press that gear conflicts were heating up there.
However, while CDR E.J. Marohn, who handles Coast Guard First District fisheries enforcement, stressed that one patrol didn’t prove anything definitively, he indicated the authorities saw little evidence of a significant problem.
“There were no gear wars out there,” he said.
Marohn said the Coast Guard and DFO intend to begin coordinating regular patrols of the area.
Other objectives of Operation Casper included looking for suspicious cross-border maritime activity relating to undocumented aliens and/or contraband smuggling and improving the collective ability of the two agencies to “respond to a threat.”
Lorelei Stevens
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