Pacific leaders welcome increased aerial surveillance of illegal fishing [1]
Friday, September 14, 2018 - 19:08. Updated on Friday, September 14, 2018 - 19:12.
The new Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Aerial Surveillance Program is funded by Australia.
Leaders at Nauru International Airport inspected one of two King Air200 aircrafts, fitted with high tech sensor, avionics and communications technologies under a Pacific Maritime Security Program, PMSP.
FFA Director General James Movick said the aerial surveillance program ensure we have more Pacific eyes in the sky on fisheries activity across the exclusive economic zones of our Pacific member nations.
“Today is an exciting milestone for fisheries surveillance, as well as broader law enforcement supporting the protection of our people, islands and oceanic resources."
Chair of the Forum Fisheries Committee, Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna commended the excellence, efforts and determination towards a new era for maritime surveillance at the crossroads of a new era for our blue continent.
He thanked Australia for its role in "future-proofing" a successful Pacific Patrol Boat program, which had served our region so well. "Enforcement of stringent data protocols will continue to ensure FFA can continue this success story in regional cooperation with cross-border maritime surveillance at its core."
The Pacific Maritime Surveillance Program now includes civilian contractors to the continued support from the QUADS (defence assets of Australia, France, New Zealand and the United States).
Meanwhile, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Hon. Marise Payne said the Pacific Maritime Security Program is a major part of Australia’s defence cooperation work in the Pacific and a commitment of Australia’s support to the Pacific region over the next 30-years.
"The aerial surveillance will be provided to 15 Forum Fisheries Agency members in a phased approach with an initial focus on detecting and responding to Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing threats, but can also be used for broader maritime security threats."
Leaders were also updated on the 'Operation Frigate Bird’ surveillance exercise Nauru had started this week, partnering with the Kiribati patrol boat Teanoai to access the Aerial Surveillance Program assets under the Niue Treaty.