Samoa signs aerial agreement with Forum Fisheries [1]
Friday, March 1, 2019 - 19:52. Updated on Monday, March 11, 2019 - 12:20.
Samoa signed a Memorandum of Understanding formalizing its support for the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Regional Aerial Surveillance Program on February 28.
Prime Minister Hon Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi and FFA Director General, Dr Manu Tupou-Roosen signed the MOU, in which Samoa will host one and Vanuatu the other of two King Air200 aircrafts fitted with high tech sensors, avionics and communications technologies, capable of detecting fishing vessels over a wide area of ocean.
PM Tuilaepa said the surveillance program in conjunction with the Pacific Patrol Boat program will provide targeted maritime patrolling and enhance the ability of Pacific island countries to defend against regional maritime security threats such as illegal fishing and transnational crime.
“This will enable the FFA to assist Pacific islands countries in further addressing maritime surveillance needs and enforcement operations."
Dr Tupou-Roosen said the MOU with Samoa is another significant step forward after Marshall Islands signed a similar agreement earlier this month.
“Our members are contributing to a new level of regional cooperation, with Australia funding the Program and the FFA Secretariat managing the planes and working in close consultation with members.”
The Regional Aerial Surveillance started in 2017 as part of the Pacific Maritime Security Program to enhance the surveillance capacity of Pacific Island countries to deter, detect and respond to illegal or security-related activities occurring in their Exclusive Economic Zones funded by Australia
The two King Air aircrafts will provide 1400 hours of aerial surveillance per year for 15 FFA Members, including Tonga.