A Canadian-led patrol of the North Pacific earlier this year uncovered dozens of alleged fisheries violations, including illegal shark finning and killing of dolphins.

Sean Wheeler, international enforcement chief for the Fisheries Department, said the two-month surveillance mission was the first to include crews from other countries, including the United States, Japan and South Korea, on a single vessel.

The Canadian Coast Guard vessel conducted 41 high-seas inspections between May and July, finding 39 potential violations of international fisheries rules, he said.

"We found significant levels of shark finning, as well as targeting of dolphins and other marine mammals, destruction of evidence, misreporting of catch, failure to report bycatch, pollution, and retention of prohibite

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