A three-month multinational operation to safeguard the marine resources of Pacific Island nations by combating illegal fishing in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean concluded on July 11.
Operation Nasse involved international partners from the Pacific Quadrilateral Defence Coordination Group: Australia, France, New Zealand, and the United States, working alongside Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands. The joint coordination centre for the operation was hosted by the US Coast Guard in Honolulu.
The operation covered over 6.54 million square nautical miles (22.4 million square kilometres) and resulted in 80 aerial sightings of fishing vessels and 31 high seas boardings. A total of 39 potential violations were reported and referred to the relevant flag states for action.
Participating nations deployed a range of sea and air assets, including the USCG Cutter Harriet Lane, the New South Wales Police Force OPV Nemesis, and two French Navy ships, the Auguste Benebig and Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai. Lt. Cmdr. Mary Kate Wheeler, the operation's commander, stated that the mission is integral to combat "illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the Pacific Ocean."