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Cision Canada
5 days ago
- General
- Cision Canada
Operation North Pacific Guard wraps up unprecedented four-nation patrol of the Pacific high seas Français
OTTAWA, ON, Aug. 14, 2025 /CNW/ - Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a serious problem around the world, posing a significant threat to fish populations and damaging marine environments. IUU fishing also jeopardizes the incomes of law-abiding harvesters and fishing industries and puts food supplies at risk for millions of people. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) continues to do its part to detect and deter IUU fishing, having recently completed this year's Operation North Pacific Guard (Op. NPG) mission. This was DFO's third patrol under the annual, multi-national high seas operation in the North Pacific, and the first to have representatives from four nations onboard a single patrol vessel. The Canadian patrol included representatives from Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States. The mission was supported by personnel from the Canadian Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Fishery officers and support personnel patrolled 17,773 km while onboard the Canadian Coast Guard vessel, the CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier, a high endurance, multi-purpose vessel that is also a light icebreaker and is biofuel capable. Over the course of two months, the expert crew monitored several hundred fishing vessels, conducted 41 high-seas inspections and interacted with more than 1,000 crew members onboard vessels. The high-seas inspections resulted in the detection of 39 potential violations of international fisheries requirements, including shark finning, the illegal harvest of dolphins, misreporting or inaccurate reporting of catch and bycatch, as well as obstruction and the destruction of evidence. Canada also deployed one of the DFO's long-range Fisheries Aerial Surveillance and Enforcement aircraft, which is normally based in Campbell River, British Columbia, to Hokkaido, Japan where daily patrols monitored fishing activity the Northwest Pacific. A total of 366 fishing vessels were inspected by air and 51 potential violations related to shark finning, pollution, salmon retention, and marking requirements were detected. During this year's mission, the CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier made a special port visit in Osaka, Japan, while the World Expo was underway. Thousands of members of the public learned about Canada's role in fighting IUU fishing through tours of the vessel and engagement with Canadian Coast Guard crew and fishery officers at the Expo's Canada Pavilion. The CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier also made a port visit in Hakodate, providing an unique opportunity to strengthen relations between the Canadian and Japanese Coast Guards. Quotes "The thousands of hours that our fishery officers spend patrolling the North Pacific Ocean each year, by air and sea, detecting and deterring illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, is a strong demonstration that Canada backs its support for international laws with concrete action. The ongoing success of Operation North Pacific Guard attests to the continued need for Canada to be a leader in securing marine species and ecosystems at home and abroad in support of both our conservation and economic objectives." The Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries Quick Facts Participation in Op. NPG aligns with Canada's objective to protect fish stocks under the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative and Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy. More than 1,100 vessels are registered to fish in the high seas of the North Pacific. Op. NPG ensures compliance with international agreements on fisheries in the waters beyond national jurisdiction (outside 200 nautical miles from land). Canadian fishery officers have taken part in the annual Op. NPG since 2019, an annual international law enforcement operation on the high seas of the North Pacific. Fishery officers conducted patrols, under international law, to enforce the United Nations ban on high seas driftnets and to ensure compliance with regulations of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMO) that protect against IUU fishing. Potential violations are confidential and investigated by the flag states and sanctions reviewed by international RFMOs and can include total bans on fishing in severe circumstances. This year's operation included the participation from over 20 DFO fishery officers aboard the Sir Wilfrid Laurier and four fishery officers participating in air surveillance operations in Japan. In addition to monitoring and enforcement, fishery officers also collected environmental data and water samples to support Canada's understanding of the high seas environment, including the migration range of species of interest, such as Pacific salmon, and the levels of microplastics in the water. This data will be analyzed and shared with Environment and Climate Change Canada. Launched in 2022, Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy has committed to advancing five strategic objectives— from security and trade to sustainability and regional engagement. It reflects Canada's commitment to inclusive growth, a rules-based international order, and partnerships that create shared prosperity with Indo-Pacific economies. Associated Links Stay Connected SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada
Perth Now
06-08-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
$39M arts centre in western suburbs to be approved
Christ Church Grammar School's revised plans for a lavish three-storey performing arts centre on the banks of the Swan River have received backing from the Town of Claremont. The new centre, named PERFORM, is expected to cost the school $39.2 million and feature a 470-seat auditorium, a 220-seat black box theatre with retractable seating, an ensemble room, an orchestral rehearsal room and a terrace, all with sweeping river views. The proposed centre will also have music classrooms, a percussion studio, a green room, a costume design room and a recording studio. Although the school had previously stated a new performing arts centre would be available for community use outside school hours, the current application indicates its intention that it will not be leased to groups outside the school community. Concept images for the proposed 470-seat auditorium. Credit: Supplied The development application for the centre will be considered by the Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel on Thursday, August 14, where the town has recommended it be approved. In 2022, State planning officials approved a $29 million four-storey 480-seat performing arts centre at a similar location on the school campus, but rising construction costs have since made the design plan 'unfeasible' and it has not proceeded. Existing buildings — including the school's music classrooms, chaplain's residence, and preparatory school — will be demolished to make way for the new centre, which the school says is required as the current teaching and performance spaces are 'no longer meeting the school's developing curriculum and requirements'. Although parts of the school are on the Town of Claremont's Heritage List, the buildings proposed for demolition are not heritage-listed. Concept images of the proposed 220-seat Black Box theatre at Christ Church Grammar School. Credit: Supplied Seven non-heritage listed trees will be chopped down for the centre, while new shrubs, grassed turf and other landscaping elements will be planted. Established in 1910, Christ Church Grammar School is an elite all-boys Anglican day and boarding school in Claremont, with students from pre-kindergarten to Year 12. The school has about 1700 students enrolled each year and employs around 200 staff members. The performing arts centre is set to be built on the banks of the Swan River in Claremont. Credit: Supplied CCGS says this will be the biggest building investment it has ever made and expects it to be the cultural centre of the school, which prides itself on its arts program. 'PERFORM lays a vital foundation for lifelong success by cultivating confidence, communication, critical thinking, and creativity — skills that seamlessly translate from the classroom to the boardroom, the workplace, and every aspect of life,' the school said. 'It is a place dedicated to building the inner man, supporting health and wellbeing, fostering 21st century skills, and providing a home for the Centre for Ethics and the performing arts.' If approved, the school expects demolition and construction to begin in 2026, with completion scheduled for December 2027.
22-07-2025
- Science
A Chinese research vessel returns to Arctic waters — and it appears Canada is watching
The Canadian military and possibly the coast guard appear to have been keeping tabs on a Chinese research vessel as it returns to Arctic waters off Alaska for the second year in a row. Data compiled by an independent researcher and ship tracker, Steffan Watkins, shows a Canadian air force CP-140 surveillance plane was flying in the vicinity of the Xue Long (Snow Dragon) 2 as it exited the Bering Strait on Sunday. The aircraft, according to Watkins's research, relocated to Anchorage, Alaska, from its base in Comox, B.C., on July 9. It has conducted four patrols since then, including the most recent one involving the vessel, which is China's first domestically built polar research ship. Despite publicly available flight tracking showing the CP-140's patrol route, the Department of National Defence would not confirm on Monday the presence of the aircraft and said it couldn't immediately answer questions on the deployment. The air force appears to have picked up where the Canadian Coast Guard left off. Coast guard says it's monitoring illegal fishing The Chinese ice ship left Shanghai on July 6 and passed close to Japan a few days later, before heading north into Russian waters. Shadowing the Xue Long 2 all of the way from Japan was CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier, which unmistakably paralleled their transit, staying in international waters, Watkins wrote in his latest post, which included ship-tracking data. The coast guard ship, the data shows, stuck with the Xue Long 2 until it crossed into the Bering Strait, between Alaska and Russia. Asked about the mission of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the coast guard at first provided a circumspect response and pointed CBC News to a June 9 media release which said the ship would be conducting high seas patrols in the North Pacific to counter illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Then late Monday, the agency denied it was shadowing the Xue Long 2. The stated mission of the coast guard ship was to focus on migratory routes for key species like Pacific salmon, it said. Researcher Steffan Watkins analyzed maritime tracking data to uncover similar paths followed by the CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Xue Long 2. Photo: Steffan Watkins However, when ship-tracking data is overlaid with publicly available data on salmon migration routes, only one-third of the recent voyage involved known salmon paths. The ship's helicopter was also slated to conduct patrols with Canadian fishery officers in Japan to monitor fishing vessels and support partner countries to ensure compliance with international law, according to the statement. Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged to expand the reach, security mandate and abilities of the Canadian Coast Guard as part of the Liberal government's plan to beef up the country's defences. Eventually, the federal government intends to integrate the civilian agency, currently under the Fisheries Department, into Canada's NATO defence capabilities to, as Carney put it last June, better secure our sovereignty and expand maritime surveillance. Last summer, the Royal Canadian Navy dispatched a frigate to monitor the Xue Long 2 (new window) during its voyage to the Arctic — a mission the Department of National Defence took more than a week to acknowledge. Military experts have described the Chinese ice research ship as a dual-use vessel — suggesting it has a military or defence capacity. WATCH | Canada plots military expansion in the North: University of British Columbia Arctic expert Michael Byers said he believes Canadian officials need to be more forthcoming about the security threat they believe the vessel poses. One has to actually do a proper threat assessment, Byers told CBC News in an interview. Byers acknowledged the Chinese ship could be collecting data that's militarily relevant, but he questions if the term dual-use is relying on assumptions rather than evidence. Relations with China continue to be strained and Byers said statements that are potentially escalatory about what the Chinese are — and are not — doing in the Arctic need to be examined carefully. Having said that, he fully supports the military and coast guard's monitoring activities. We're very concerned as a country about China as a rising military power, and obviously China is very strongly supporting Russia with regards to its invasion of Ukraine, Byers said. So yes, if a Chinese government vessel is sailing anywhere close to the United States or to Canada, then yeah, we would be monitoring it. Murray Brewster (new window) · CBC News · Senior reporter, defence and security Murray Brewster is senior defence writer for CBC News, based in Ottawa. He has covered the Canadian military and foreign policy from Parliament Hill for over a decade. Among other assignments, he spent a total of 15 months on the ground covering the Afghan war for The Canadian Press. Prior to that, he covered defence issues and politics for CP in Nova Scotia for 11 years and was bureau chief for Standard Broadcast News in Ottawa. Follow Murray Brewster on Twitter (new window)
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Honolulu City Council adopts HART's $968M budget
The Hono lulu Authority for Rapid Transportation's $968.3 million budget package will roll for fiscal year 2026. The City Council on Wednesday voted 8-0, with Council member Augie Tulba absent for that portion of the meeting, to approve HART's $174.7 million operating budget. On a subsequent vote, the panel voted unanimously on HART's capital budget, which features a $793.6 million capital spending plan, above the current $574 million—a nearly 38.3 % increase. HART's budgets, expected to take effect July 1 if signed by Mayor Rick Blangiardi later this month, show marked increases to debt service on the project's loans as well as increased labor costs for the over-$10 billion Skyline construction. The rail agency previously indicated other higher costs as well. HART officials indicated that due to the awarded contract of $1.66 billion for City Center Guideway and Stations, or CCGS, meant to take the rail line to Kakaako by 2031, the project's capital budget is expected to rise from $482.4 million in the current fiscal year to more than $526.9 million for 2026—a 9.2 % increase. In August, HART awarded the CCGS contract to Los Angeles-based Tutor Perini Corp. to design and build Skyline's last 3-mile segment to Halekauwila Street. But rail staffers say because of the large contract—about $360 million above original estimates—certain rail-related projects might need to be temporarily deferred. Meanwhile, the Council's anticipated vote on the mayor's proposed $5.14 billion budget package did not immediately occur. Following daylong back-and-forth discussions, the Council took a meeting recess after 5 p.m. Wednesday. As of press time, no formal vote had been taken after disagreements erupted between the Council and city staff over budgetary issues. Those issues included Council Chair Tommy Waters' floor draft of Bill 22—the executive operating budget—which looked to redirect previously appropriated but unused, or 'lapsed, ' city departmental funds to bolster the city's sewer fund, as a way to defray the cost of anticipated multiyear sewer fee rate increases expected to start July 1. 'We have reduced approximately 33 % of inactive vacancies balances across specific departments, ' Waters said of his plan. City staff balked, however. Namely, city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services Director Andy Kawano disagreed with Waters' plan, stating such an action could harm the city's AA + bond rating, particularly as the city tackles federally mandated, multibillion dollar upgrades to its sewer treatment infrastructure and related utilities. During public testimony earlier that day, Laie resident Choon James was critical of the Council's latest budget approval for rail. 'I feel like everyone knows that the rail is the white elephant in the room, ' she said. 'The city is now trying to uncover every (nook ) and cranny trying to raise revenue for core services.' She added 'this is not fiscally sustainable in the long run for ordinary people.' 'And I wish to have this testimony for all of the finance bills there, ' James said. 'Unless we stop tax and spend, tax and spend and do some assessments here and there, local people who do not have a lot of money are going to get into so much trouble and price out of Hawaii.'
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HART's $968M budget under Honolulu City Council review
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation this week responded to City Council questions over its $968.3 million budget package proposed for fiscal year 2026. HART's budgets, expected to take effect July 1 if adopted, show marked increases to debt service on the project's loans as well as increased labor costs for the over-$10 billion Skyline construction. They show other higher costs as well. Rail officials indicate that due to the awarded contract of $1.66 billion for City Center Guideway and Stations, or CCGS, meant to take the rail line to Kakaako by 2031, the project's capital budget is expected to rise from $482.4 million in the current fiscal year to more than $526.9 million for 2026—a 9.2 % increase. In August, HART awarded the CCGS contract to Los Angeles-based Tutor Perini Corp. to design and build Skyline's last 3-mile segment to Halekauwila Street. But rail staffers say because of the large contract—about $360 million above original estimates—certain rail-related projects might need to be temporarily deferred. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Still, HART Executive Director and CEO Lori Kahikina told the Council's Budget Committee on Wednesday that Tutor Perini is 'moving quicker than I anticipated.' 'It's a design-build, so I thought they would take about a year alone just to do designs, ' she said. 'You should see columns starting to come up later this year.' 'They are going to start in Iwilei—kind of work out all the kinks and bugs—and they may have a second heading starting in Halekauwila, ' she added. According to HART's budget information, 2025's total operating budget will rise to $174.7 million—an increase of $36.4 million, or 26.3 %, over the rail agency's current $138.3 million spending plan. Of that amount, $169.7 million—or 97 %—is composed of debt serv ice expenditures. That includes $129 million in principal payments on outstanding general obligation bonds—an increase of $40.8 million over the current fiscal year, budget reports indicate. But the agency notes $40.3 million in interest payments on debt equates to a $4.6 million decrease compared with the current fiscal year. Conversely, total labor costs are budgeted at $1.5 million—a $368, 153 increase, or 32.4 % higher than the current year. HART's main funding sources—local taxes and federal funding—total over $1.25 billion for fiscal year 2026, budget plans indicate. The federal funding source for 2025 totals $125 million, or about 10 % of the project's funding budget, compared with $518.3 million, or about 41 %, derived from local taxes, budget reports state. Amended in February 2024, the Federal Transit Administration's Full Funding Grant Agreement initially provided $1.55 billion to construct the city's rail project. Currently, Kahikina noted, $744 million is the amount outstanding from that agreement. 'When we complete City Center's Utilities Relocation package IV—that's the Dillingham corridor—we're eligible to apply for the remaining $125 million, ' she said. 'To date, we have received—in calendar year 2024—$125 million, ' she added. 'And then when we awarded that Tutor Perini contract, that was an additional $250 million, so we received $375 million in calendar year 2024.' Two more FTA disbursements of $125 million—or $250 million in total—are expected to be gained by HART, she said. Another $119 million—not tied to any project milestones such as stations—also remains. 'So the total outstanding is $369 million, ' Kahikina explained. Rail construction money is largely gleaned from the state's general excise tax, which is projected to be $371.4 million in 2025 ; transient accommodation tax, estimated at nearly $90 million ; as well as the city's own TAT at $57.2 million, among other sources, according to HART. A $10 million city subsidy is among other funding sources comprising the remaining amounts. The proposed operating and capital budgets will fund 72 full-time equivalent positions. As of February, 47 people were employed at the rail agency. It is authorized to have a total of 98 positions, HART reports indicate. HART also proposes a $793.6 million capital budget for next fiscal year above the current $574 million—a nearly 38.3 % increase. The capital budget includes future contract awards for Skyline's Pearl Highlands Transit Center as well as an H-2 freeway access ramp. A planned Waipahu Station makai entrance—originally earmarked for $14 million—is now being proposed at $20 million, the CIP indicates. At the meeting, Council Chair Tommy Waters queried HART officials on potential impacts—namely involving the Trump administration's freeze on federal funding—that could affect FTA and the city's rail project. 'Have you folks noticed any change in the team that you're working with over at FTA, and do you anticipate any of that occurring ?' Waters asked. In response, HART Deputy Executive Director and CFO Rick Keene said, 'We haven't heard anything, so we think that's good news.' 'We hope that this next $125 (million ) that's budgeted in fiscal 2025 for the completion of segment two will not come about until the end of the year, ' he said. 'We're hopeful that by then the dust will have settled a little bit.' Moreover, Keene alluded to talk 'in the media ' about the Republican-controlled Congress' possible defunding of California's long-planned high-speed rail system. 'And out of Washington, to us, there's been clear distinctions made between that situation and our situation. So at this point we haven't heard anything, ' he added. 'If we hear otherwise, we will let everyone know, but right now we still feel confident in the numbers.' Members of the public also spoke at the budget hearing. Donald Sakamoto, president of Citizens for a Fair Americans With Disabilities Act Ride, testified that he participated in the Office of the City Auditor's recent report over Honolulu's Skyline rail operations. That audit, in part, asserts Skyline has less than adequate features for the disabled around its stations. 'So I'm worried about construction of phase two and phase three of the rail stations, and the surrounding areas to be more accessible for our ADA persons like myself, who's blind, and others, ' he said, 'especially with the 35th anniversary of the ADA law this July 26, 2025.' 'So I look forward to the report from HART on the projection of their rail station, and the rail project and the ADA accessibility, ' Sakamoto added. Meanwhile, Kahikina noted city rail's second segment—from the old stadium, past the airport, to Kalihi—will not be open for public service by October, as was stated by the city during a Council budget hearing Monday. 'HART has consistently said we will transfer the assets to (the city Department of Transportation Services ) before the end of the year, ' she said. 'I'm trying to temper expectations with you folks and the public, so we are still saying 'before the end of the year.'' 'However, it is prudent for DTS and (city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services ) to budget ' for HART, Kahi kina added. 'The earliest we could possibly open is October, so we should budget for that, but just understand right now it's still the end of the year.' HART's latest operating and CIP budgets—to be introduced as Bills 26 and 27, respectively—are scheduled to be heard Wednesday as first-reading measures during the full Council's meeting.
