1. U.S. Coast Guard Partnering in Oceania
Joint maritime surveillance and law enforcement operations provide for cooperation in maritime surveillance and professional exchange that is valued by the USCG. Regional operations and shiprider operations foster cooperation that yields results.
The Coast Guard is PACIFIC COMMAND’s Executive Agent to the Quadrilateral Defence Coordinating Group (QUADS) where we synchronize US, French, Australian, and New Zealand engagement with Pacific Island Countries (PICs) to counter transnational crime threats throughout the region.
Recently the QUADS have begun also directly engaging with the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The primary transnational crime that occurs in Oceania is Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN estimates that IUU fishing results in $1.7 billion of economic loss to PICs GDPs. Working together with QUAD partners, and PICs organized under the FFA, the US Coast Guard participates in a number of regional multinational surge operations targeting IUU fishing, but also deterring against a number of other transnational crimes such as human trafficking, narcotics smuggling, and pollution crimes.
The Coast Guard will be “hosting” the next meeting of the QUADs in Honiara in March – planned to run in conjunction with the FFA-sponsored Monitor, Control, and Surveillance Working Group Workshop that brings together representatives from 22 PICs and serves as an excellent opportunity to directly engage with our constituents.
[FLAGS PICTURED – FROM TOP LEFT] US
AMERICAN SAMOA
CNMI
GUAM
NAURU
FIJI
VANUATU
FSM
PALAU
RMI
FRENCH POLYNESIA
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
SAMOA
TONGA
SOLOMON ISLANDS
KIRIBATI
NIUE
TUVALU
COOK ISLANDS NZ
AUS
[NOT PICTURED – NEW CALEDONIA and TOKELAU*]
*Tokelau is a FFA member but is part of NZ
[NOTE: Cook Isl. Is part of NZ but is shown because of the U.S.-Cook Islands s/r bilat]

2. U.S. Coast Guard Partnering in Oceania Search and Rescue Operations
Maritime Surveillance
Enforcement Operations
Environmental Response Partnerships
(PICTURE – LEFT)
PACIFIC OCEAN – Capt. James L. McCauley, left, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Rush and Sgt. Wayne Anjian, right, a shiprider from Republic of the Marshall Islands, prepare to conduct a boarding, Oct. 20, 2010.
(PICTURES – MIDDLE): SEA GUARDIAN EX in Pohnpei (2007/2008)

3. Bilateral Enforcement
U.S. Shiprider Program
“[U.S. Shiprider Operations] are regarded as the most effective surface surveillance and response activity conducted by an external player.”
– Australian Strategic Policy Institute, May 2011
Source (ASPI Quote): ASPI Review, “Staying The Course”, May 2011
U.S. Coast Guard has bi-lateral “shiprider” agreements with nine countries in Oceania. The areas on the chart in purple depicts regions that have shiprider agreements are in place.
Five of the agreements were signed in 2008 (Palau, FSM, Cook Islands, RMI, and Kiribati).
One was signed in 2009 (Tonga).
Two were signed in 2011 at the Pacific Islands Forum (Tuvalu and Nauru).
The most recent agreement, Samoa, was signed last year (2012)
Cook Islands Boarding Operation supported by a USCG Boarding Team, November 2011
Nine Bilateral U.S. Shiprider Agreements
$5M in Revenue From Fines for Pacific Island Countries Since 2008

4. Bilateral Maritime Surveillance USCG Shiprider Operations
Shiprider operations occur in concert with USCG patrols of U.S. EEZs and surrounding high seas under Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)
This trend indicates a marked increase in compliance attributed to law enforcement presence in the region
Interdiction and Seizure in FSM EEZ
These agreements allow for an enforcement official from the host country to embark a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter for the purposes of patrolling within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and/or Territorial Seas of that nation. Shiprider operations occur in concert with USCG patrols of U.S. EEZs and surrounding high seas under Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).
While operating in Pacific Island Country EEZs and territorial sea, the USCG operates under the authority of the embarked country official to enforce the laws of their country. Law enforcement actions are led by embarked country officials with support USCG Cutter and boarding teams.
This graph shows the number of boardings executed in the EEZ of Pacific Island Countries by year, and the amount of vessels found in compliance in blue. Typical violations are non-licensed vessels fishing in a EEZ, vessels with improper markings and failure to follow measures for conservation of sharks.
Although limited to three years data, this trend indicates a marked increase in compliance attributed to law enforcement presence in the region
-- 82% of boardings in PIC EEZs identified compliant vessels in 2011 up from 76% in 2010 and 42% in 2009
The FY12 data depicts only one month of operations. Data shown is reflective of bilateral operations conducted in the last two weeks with Kiribati. During a 3-day patrol in Kiribati EEZ, the USCG facilitated 7 boardings. Of those vessels boarded, one was found to be non-compliant with Kiribati laws.
-- Currently embarked is an official from Cook Islands. Also planned to embark this same patrol are officials from Tonga and Tuvalu.
2011 also saw the first air surveillance operations with embarked plane-riders in accordance with these same bilateral agreements. Coast Guard C-130s from Air Station Barber’s Point supported three air surveillance operations patrolling Kiribati EEZs between Jun – Aug of 2011.
--One of which operation was in support of the regional operation, OP BIG EYE.
A USCG Boarding Team Pictured with members of Kiribati Police and Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resource Development

5. USCG & US Navy Joint Operations Oceania Maritime Security Initiative
USCG enforcement liaison searching for illegal
fishing vessels from aboard US Navy Ship
Known as Operation Persistent Presence, the U.S. Coast Guard is partnering with the U.S. Navy in the effort to detect and deter illegal fishing and other threats to maritime security in the Western and Pacific Oceans. In supporting the Coast Guard’s initiatives, the U.S. Navy is assisting in identifying fishing vessels encountered in the region and documenting their activity to detect illegal fishing and other threats to maritime
Since June 2009, there have been 10 joint USCG/USN patrols in Oceania, providing 87 sightings of fishing vessels, and 10 potential IUU fishing vessels reported to Pacific Island Countries.
*A Coast Guard liaison officer aboard a USN Ship recently sighted a fishing vessel suspected of fishing illegally in a Pacific island country’s EEZ. Pictures were taken by the CG officer from a USN Helicopter. Sighting documentation along with pictures of the vessel actively fishing were captured by the Coast Guard officer and provided to the appropriate country officials. The country confirmed the vessel was not licensed to fish in their EEZ. Their Pacific Patrol Boat was Launched to take LE action. The case is currently in work by the country.
In the future it is the desire of both services to expand this agreement to provide the capability to conduct boardings with embarked USCG Boarding Teams on the high seas under WCPFC authority and possibly in PIC EEZ with PIC shipriders through the bilateral agreements.
“OPP” or “OMSI Phase I”

6. U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue
“Preventive SAR”
SAR Operations (air/surface)
SAR Training
SME Exchange
Drift modeling
A Kiribati family of four missing at sea for six days was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard and Royal New Zealand Air Force.
The U.S. Coast Guard provides SAR assistance with case planning, and sends aircraft and patrol boats to assist with searches. Planning assistance includes things like: providing communications, performing drift calculations, and search area determination.
**USCG recently supported Search for 7 mariners in RMI. D14 deployed a C-130 to conduct a search pattern. The C-130 located the missing individuals on the third leg of the search due in large part to the search pattern produced by JRCC Honolulu. (Current case OVERDUE 20FT VESSEL W/07 POB IVO MALOELAP ATOLL, RMI pull data from the OPSUM)
In addition to the surrounding regional Rescue Coordination Centers (RCCs), USCG partners with the Secretariat of the Pacific Communities (SPC) in conjunction with AU, NZ and FP in support of the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICT) to optimize regional SAR coordination. USCG directly liaisons and provides SAR supports to FSM, Palau and RMI under the COFA. We are supporting efforts to improve PICT SAR response processes, establish preventative measures through boating safety and education, and improve detection & drift modeling by educating islanders how they can make themselves more detectable when adrift (i.e. signal mirrors, radar reflective tools), and conducting field tests on common Pacific Island vessels (i.e. local skiff and out-rigger canoe) to determine leeway or how the wind effects the vessels drift.
(BACKGROUND)
FSM: 6 USCG SAR cases in FSM (1 Sep 2010 to Present)
RMI: 4 USCG SAR cases in RMI in last ~14 months (with one pending request for support as of 4 Nov 11)
PALAU: 3 USCG SAR cases in Palau in the last ~15 months
KIRIBATI: 5 USCG SAR cases near Tarawa in the last 12 months with 131 hours of C130 support.
(PICTURED)
A family of four missing at sea for six days was rescued by the Coast Guard and Royal New Zealand Air Force 2,300 miles south of the Hawaiian Islands on 05 Nov 10 The US Coast Guard received a call from the Kiribati Maritime Police Branch informing them of a missing 13-foot boat with two adults and two children aboard. The USCGC RUSH reached the search area Friday and launched its HH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter to begin a search.  The New Zealand Air Force located the missing family approximately 230 miles from Butaritari Atoll, the nearest body of land. They relayed the location to the crew of USCGC RUSH who launched their small boat and rescued the family. The family was safely taken aboard and transported to Butaritari Atoll. The family was brought onboard and given fresh food and water, warm showers, and dry clothes and was returned to Butaritari via HH-65 helicopter 06 Nov 2010.
350 NM
GUAM
INITIAL DISTRESS POSITION

7. The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
Convention to develop Protocol Concerning Co-operation in Combating Pollution Emergencies in the South Pacific Region (Formed during Noumea Convention, New Caledonia 1986)
Charged by the governments and administrations of the Pacific region with the protection and sustainable development of the region's environment. 
Supported by USCG District 14 and the Oceania Regional Response Team (ORRT)
D14 Hosted latest SPREP workshop to develop PACIFIC ISLANDS REGIONAL MARINE SPILL CONTINGENCY PLAN (PACPLAN) – a template for Marine Environmental Response for Pacific Island Nations
At Noumea, New Caledonia on 25 November 1986, the members of SPREP adopted the Convention for the Protection of the Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region (the SPREP Convention), with associated Protocols. The Convention includes a Protocol Concerning Co-operation in Combating Pollution Emergencies in the South Pacific Region (SPREP Pollution Protocol). The Protocol provides a formal framework for co-operation between Pacific Island Countries and Territories when responding to marine spills.
The Oceania Regional Response Team (ORRT) has a long-standing relationship with SPREP with the inclusion of Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and the Republic of Palau with which the U.S. Compact of Free Association began in 1947 and has been modified over the years.
CCGD-14 was host to the latest Review and Revision Workshop by SPREP for the PACPLAN, December U. S. Dept of State provided provisional authority to the 14th District to provide the Coast Guard ORRT Co-Chair/Co-Coordinators as representatives to ensure appropriate modifications to the PACPLAN were made, and forwarded to DoS for final review and approval.
Parties to SPREP Convention:
Fiji Islands
Cook Islands
 Pacific Island Countries
Federated States of Micronesia
Marshall Islands
Kiribati
Nauru
Papua New Guinea
Palau
Niue
Samoa
Tuvalu
Tonga
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
American Samoa (US)
Pacific Island Territories
Northern Mariana Islands (US)
New Caledonia (France)
Guam (US)
French Polynesia (France)
Pitcairn Islands (UK)
Wallis & Futuna (France)
Tokelau (NZ)
 Australia
SPREP Non-Island Metropolitan Members
France
United States of America
New Zealand
The SPREP Pollution Protocol requires Parties to:
Take initial action at the national level to respond to pollution incidents (marine spills).
Co-operate with other Parties in the response to pollution incidents.
Enacting relevant legislation.
Establish and maintain, within their respective capabilities, the means of preventing and responding to pollution incidents, including;
Designating a Responsible Authority.
Developing and maintaining contingency plans.
Exchange information with each other and report all pollution incidents to relevant authorities and other parties likely to be affected.
Provide assistance, within their capabilities, to other Parties who request such assistance.
Facilitate the movement of personnel and materials needed for the response to a pollution incident into, out-of and through its territory.
Develop and maintain, where appropriate sub-regional and bilateral arrangements for preventing and responding to pollution incidents.
To prevent/minimise damage to marine and coastal environments and resources from major marine spills, and to hasten the recovery of any environments and resources damaged by major marine spills, in the Pacific Islands region.
The PACPLAN:
The Objectives of PACPLAN are:
To promote and implement regional co-operation in planning and training for marine spill response, and in the actual prevention of and response to marine spills.
To facilitate the implementation of both the SPREP Pollution Protocol and the OPRC Convention at the operational level for all SPREP island members, including those that are not yet parties to SPREP Pollution Protocol and/or the OPRC Convention.
To provide systems for the detection and reporting of marine spills within the area covered by the plan, including communications networks.
To outline the counter-measures available to restrict the spread of a spill and minimise the environmental, economic and social impacts of a spill.
To outline the mechanism and procedures by which SPREP island members may request assistance, in the form of specialised equipment and technical experts; from each other, from SPREP non-island members, from the oil industry and from other parties.
To outline procedures for the recovery of costs of responding to marine spills.
To outline arrangements for resourcing maintenance of PACPLAN and associated systems by SPREP.