7-9 May, 2002, Kodiak Alaska

Representatives from Canada, Japan, Russia and the United States met in Kodiak, Alaska from 7-9 May for the annual NPAFC EECM.  The EECM was proposed and accepted by the NPAFC Committee on Enforcement (ENFO) during the Annual Meeting in November 2001.  Canada and the United States offered to host the meeting, with the NPAFC Secretariat acting as sponsor.  While in Kodiak, participants conducted an high seas driftnet (HSDN) demonstration patrol on a Canadian Aurora CP-140 aircraft, toured U.S. Coast Guard facilities, and visited a fish processing plant.

The meeting opened with remarks from Mr. Vladimir Fedorenko, Executive Director of the NPAFC, and from Captain First Rank Vladimir Antipin, who chaired the meeting on behalf of the ENFO Chairman Captain First Rank Igor Rypalov.  The meeting included discussions by each party on enforcement efforts to date, enforcement plans for the remainder of 2002, and the effectiveness of the Joint Operations Information Coordination Group.  In addition, Russia provided a summary of the final results of the F/V Sakhfrakht-3 case, and the United States provided each party with a CD-ROM containing photos of Research, Enforcement, and HSDN vessels.  The United States also demonstrated a draft high seas driftnet enforcement web page.  Finally, the parties broadly exchanged information on lessons learned and stressed the importance of better communication, coordination of effort and information sharing.  All parties validated their points of contact and method for sharing information.

The operational highlight of the meeting was a demonstration flight aboard a Canadian CP-140 Aurora aircraft, which had just finished its deployment patrolling the NPAFC Convention Area.  The flight demonstrated the aircraft’s capabilities and flight profile, and included overflights of local fishing vessels.  The participants also conducted a tour aboard the U.S. Coast Guard medium endurance cutter ALEX HALEY and were given a static display of the U.S. Coast Guard aircraft stationed in Kodiak.

The participants also visited the port of Kodiak, and toured the Trident fish processing plant.  Finally, the group visited the Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation’s Kodiak rocket launch facility.

The meeting was highlighted by receptions hosted by the NPAFC Secretariat, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and the Mayor of Kodiak.

This years meeting was very productive, and allowed participants to strengthen relationships and improve communications and coordination of effort among the Parties.