The Tonga Defence Services stated today that the Tongan Navy Patrol Boat VOEA Pangai with patrol boats from Cook Islands Police and Samoa Police worked together to enforce law at sea in Tonga’s EEZ, assisted by the Royal New Zealand Airforce and a French Military Guardian aircraft in the aerial search.

The three patrol boats had combined efforts to locate and intercept many foreign vessels and the VOEA Pangai conducted a large number of boarding and checking of compliance with license conditions.

“The preservation of fishing stocks and adherence to licence conditions is of great importance in Polynesia and throughout the Pacific. Exercise Ika Moana 2013 has shown how well the forces in this region can work together to combat illegal fishing and other crime at sea. Subject to the agreement of all participants, Ika Moana could become an annual exercise series, with rotating leadership."

The exercise began last week with the patrol boats gathering in Niue for preparation and training with a brief patrol in transit through the Niue's EEZ before arriving in Tonga on Thursday, for refueling and provisions. Senior officers were also briefed by the Tonga Fishieries and Police last Friday.

The multi-national combined police, military and civilian exercise was also supported by Niue, Australia and the Forum Fisheries Agency in Honiara.

Regional

The Commander of the Tonga Defence Services Brigadier-General Tau'aika ‘Uta'atu said the exercise was an excellent example of close neighbours taking a regional approach to fighting crime at sea.

Tonga was proud to have led and initiated this event and he thanked all the exercise participants for their support.

The exercise concludes on Friday with the return of patrol boats to their home ports.