Pacific Island countries have demonstrated the power of regional cooperation in protecting the region's valuable fisheries resources following the successful completion of Operation Tui Moana 2026 (OPTM26), a three-week coordinated fisheries surveillance operation spanning vast areas of the Pacific Ocean.

Led by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), the Operation brought together fisheries, maritime and law enforcement personnel from across the region to strengthen efforts against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and other transnational maritime crimes.

Conducted from 4 - 22 May 2026, Operation Tui Moana involved the participation of Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga and Tuvalu, with support from Pacific Quad (P-QUAD) partners Australia, New Zealand, France and the United States, alongside regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) partners.

The Operation covered the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of 10 Pacific Island countries and adjacent high seas areas within the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, combining maritime patrols, aerial surveillance, intelligence analysis and compliance monitoring to identify and deter potential fisheries violations.

During OPTM26, authorities conducted 61 vessel inspections at sea and in port and verified more than 200 vessel detections across the area of operation. Intelligence and surveillance activities also identified four vessels of interest and led to two apprehensions linked to suspected fisheries-related offences, including concerns involving vessel monitoring system (VMS) non-reporting, unauthorised bunkering and transhipment activities, and log sheet reporting compliance. Investigations and enforcement actions remain ongoing under national and regional processes.

FFA Director-General Noan David Pakop said the Operation highlighted the strength of Pacific solidarity and the region's shared commitment to safeguarding its ocean resources.

“As we conclude Operation Tui Moana 2026, I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to all Members, partners and everyone who contributed to the success of this multilateral operation.

Over the past three weeks, we have once again demonstrated the strength of regional< solidarity and collective action in protecting our fisheries resources and strengthening the Pacific’s fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing and other associated transnational crimes,” he said.

“Operation Tui Moana 2026 has been a powerful demonstration of intelligence-led, cooperative fisheries surveillance in action across a vast area spanning 10 Exclusive Economic Zones.”

Mr Pakop said the success of the OPTM26 was made possible through the strong cooperation among participating Members and partners, whose willingness to share information, assets and expertise continues to strengthen regional fisheries compliance and enforcement efforts.

A key feature of the OPTM26 was the extensive use of intelligence-led surveillance and maritime domain awareness tools to monitor vessel activity across the region.

Participating countries received daily intelligence briefings, risk assessments and vessel activity analyses, supported by satellite monitoring and remote sensing technologies that enabled authorities to detect and track potentially suspicious activity in near real-time.

At the heart of the operation was the FFA Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre (RFSC) in Honiara, where 21 secondees from Member countries, partner agencies and MCS organisations worked side by side to coordinate intelligence gathering, operational planning and surveillance activities throughout the three-week deployment.

Operational assets included six Guardian Class Patrol Boats from participating Pacific Island countries, supported by the United States Coast Guard and French Navy. Aerial surveillance missions were conducted with assistance from the Australian Defence Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, United States Coast Guard and regional surveillance aircraft operating under bilateral fisheries surveillance arrangements.

Operation Tui Moana is a core component of FFA's regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) programme and is implemented under the Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Strategy. The Operation also strengthened cooperation under the Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement (NTSA) through coordinated surveillance activities, joint boarding exercises and enhanced intelligence sharing among participating countries.

As Pacific fisheries face increasingly sophisticated compliance challenges, regional operations such as Tui Moana continue to play a critical role in ensuring that fisheries are managed sustainably and that the economic benefits derived from the region's tuna resources remain with Pacific people.

The Operation supports the vision of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, reaffirming the region's commitment to collective action, regional security and the sustainable management of one of the world's most valuable tuna fisheries.

The outcomes from Operation Tui Moana 2026 will now contribute to ongoing investigations, compliance processes and future regional fisheries enforcement initiatives coordinated by FFA and its Members.

About the FFA

The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency is an intergovernmental organisation comprising 17 Pacific Island member countries. Established in 1979, FFA supports its Members in the sustainable management and development of tuna fisheries through regional cooperation, fisheries management, monitoring, control and surveillance, policy advice, capacity development and advocacy on international fisheries issues.