Canada aids Philippines in fight against illegal fishing

The Philippines has been actively seeking international support to address challenges posed by illegal fishing and the Chinese maritime militia in its waters. Recently, it has turned to Canada, aiming to establish a formal agreement that would facilitate joint operations involving the Canadian Coast Guard. This initiative follows successful collaborative efforts, such as Operation Bantay Lawud, wherein Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans conducted joint aerial patrols alongside Philippine authorities to protect the western Pacific region from fishing violations. A Canadian Dash-8 surveillance aircraft played a crucial role by covering extensive maritime areas over two weeks, focusing on identifying illegal fishing activities. Furthermore, Canadian fisheries officers provided significant training to strengthen local capacities in high-seas inspections. This collaboration is in line with Canada’s broader Indo-Pacific policy that aims for increased engagement in the region, illustrating its commitment to address maritime security issues. Experts, including Vina Nadjibulla from the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, have noted the potential for a more strategic partnership beyond just temporary operations. She advocates for deeper collaboration, suggesting that Canada consider transferring older Coast Guard vessels to the Philippines once they are replaced by new assets. This ongoing partnership aims not only to combat illegal fishing but also to monitor and track movements of Chinese vessels that intimidatingly patrol disputed areas of the South China Sea. By utilizing advanced technologies, such as the Dark Vessel Detection program, Canada assists the Philippines in detecting vessels that have turned off their location-transmitting devices. This cooperation represents a significant step toward enhancing maritime domain awareness in the region, ultimately benefiting both countries in their respective maritime security efforts.