Media Releases

Operation Island Chief conducts surveillance across PNG,FSM, RMI, Nauru and Kiribati waters

FFA REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS, HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS, TUESDAY 24 AUGUST 2010: This year's Operation Island Chief, a surveillance operation involving Papua New Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Kiribati and the United States of America, coordinated by the FFA Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre, ended yesterday with success in the region's activities to deter illegal fishing.

Over the past 7 days, Pacific patrol boats, US Coast Guard vessels and a US Navy aircraft have surveyed approximately 12,000,000 square kilometers of ocean, sighting numerous vessels and checking their compliance with a range of fisheries regulations.  

Approximately 200 people were involved in the surveillance effort and 350 fishing vessels were monitored during the operation, 99 vessels were sighted and 20 boarded.

FFA FISHERIES TRADE NEWS Volume 3: Issue 5 & 6 May-June 2010

FFA FISHERIES TRADE NEWS

Volume 3: Issue 5 & 6 May & June 2010

By Elizabeth Havice, Amanda Hamilton and Liam Campling[1]

 

Contents

Fisheries Subsidies

WTO discussions on new fisheries subsidies proposal by Brazil, China, India and Mexico

Fisheries Trade and Development

FFA’s Polynesian members establish ‘Te Vaka Moana’ group

Further Blow to American Samoa Canning Industry – Starkist to Lay Off Workers

Fisheries Trade-related Regulation

Labour standards, US free trade agreements and the fishing sector

Fisheries Management and Development

Fisheries eco-labels are assessed against each other

Tuna Markets

Update on Spanish tuna industry

Outcomes from Ministerial Meetings about fisheries

MADANG, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, 7-8 JULY 2010: The Sixth Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee Ministerial Meeting agreed on several strategic priorities for management and control of fishing. Australia, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Niue, Republic of Palau, Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Kingdom of Tonga and Tuvalu were represented at Ministerial level and four other members were represented by Senior Officials at the meeting.

Surveillance Operation TUI MOANA shows continuing determination by FFA members to deter illegal fishing

FFA REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS, HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS, MONDAY 8 JUNE 2010: Operation Tui Moana, a surveillance operation involving Cook Islands, Samoa and New Zealand, coordinated by the FFA Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre, concluded on Monday demonstrating determination by FFA members to deter illegal fishing by conducting regional MCS operations.

Over  10 days, the Cook Island Pacific patrol boat with two NZ fisheries officers, supported by a P3K Orion surveillance aircraft provided by the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF),  conducted surveillance and boarding operations in the EEZ's of Samoa, Cook Islands and the surrounding high seas areas and the pocket adjacent to Cook Islands EEZ. 

Pacific Patrol boat President Te Kukupa from Cook Islands, complemented the surveillance by a RNZAF P3C Orion surveillance aircraft provided by NZ to conduct patrols targeting Illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing vessels. 

NEWS: Tuna data management and women observer support strengthened in Solomon Islands

The First Solomon Islands National Tuna Data Workshop was held in Honiara last week to reflect on the current practices, identify ways to improve collection and management of tuna data and to make sure the country meets its data obligations to the WCPFC

With tuna as the second biggest export earner in the Solomon Islands, data of tuna catch and other fishing related activities within Solomon Islands EEZ must be recorded and managed in proper systems and procedures to inform the Government to make decisions that ensure the long term sustainability of the tuna industry.