Government of Canada Played Host to Annual Meeting of the North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwired - Oct. 2, 2014) -

Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this press release.

The Government of Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard hosted the North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum (NACGF) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from September 29 to October 2, 2014.

The Forum meets annually and brings together Heads of Delegations from the 20 member countries. The meeting was held at the Delta Halifax Hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

This year's theme was technology and the member countries discussed how to employ it toward greater multilateral cooperation on matters related to illegal drug trafficking, marine security, environmental response, fisheries enforcement, illegal migration, search and rescue, and technical issues.

During the Forum, the Canadian Coast Guard also led an international, multi-agency exercise on maritime security, search and rescue and environmental response.

The two-day exercise, called GuardEx14, began Tuesday in Mahone Bay and then moved to Halifax Harbour on Wednesday. The exercise scenario began as a maritime security incident before evolving into a search and rescue incident, and then finally into an environmental response incident.

The Canadian Coast Guard was joined by personnel and assets from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, National Defense, Transport Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, as well as personnel, vessels and aircraft from the United States and France. Several private sector response partners also participated.

Quick Facts

• GuardEx14 was an opportunity for the Canadian Coast Guard and its national and international partners to demonstrate their expertise and to hone skills.

• The North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum is an informal organization that was formed in 2007 and is comprised of 20 countries which border on the North Atlantic Ocean.

Quotes

"The dedicated men and women of the Canadian Coast Guard, along with their national and international response partners, work together to guard our country, protect our fisheries and oceans and safeguard those who make a living on the sea."

Mr. Marc Grégoire, Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard

For more information about the Canadian Coast Guard, visit www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca.

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