After 45 days and 10,000 nautical miles patrolling Oceania for Operation ‘Aiga, crew members of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Juniper recently returned to Honolulu.
Operation ‘Aiga aimed to bring together Coast Guard capabilities and operations with Pacific Island area partners to accomplish shared national interests, protect against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and bolster maritime sovereignty in the region, according to the USCG. (‘Aiga is the Samoan word for ‘family.)
While on patrol, Juniper crew members teamed with the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and worked with a U.S. Marine Corps linguist to question 11 foreign fishing vessels and board four fishing boats. The Juniper also worked jointly with a French Navy Falcon-200 aircraft on an operation to find and intercept vessels and participated in the Waterways Analysis and Management System Report for Pago Pago.
“We strengthened our joint capabilities with the French Navy in the fight against IUU fishing activities on the high seas in support of the WCPFC,” Cmdr. Chris Jasnoch, the Juniper’s commanding officer, said.
