Operation Island Chief 2024 successfully concludes
The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) has successfully concluded Operation Island Chief 2024 (OPIC24), a 12-day initiative focused on monitoring and surveillance across the Pacific region to ensure the sustainability of fisheries.
OPIC24 saw the participation of FFA Members, the Pacific Quadrilateral Defence Coordination Group (Pacific QUADs), and various partners. Extensive surveillance was conducted to safeguard the marine resources within the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of FFA Members and the Western Central Pacific Ocean.
Personnel from PNG the Royal Australian Air Force conducting air surveillance during the Operation. Photo supplied.
The Operation covered the combined EEZs of 11 participating FFA Members and adjacent high seas pockets, encompassing an area of approximately 18.2 million square kilometres.
FFA Director General Dr Manu Tupou-Roosen emphasised the significance of OPIC24, highlighting its role in coordinating surveillance efforts among participating Members.
“Operation Island Chief underscores FFA’s unwavering commitment to sustainable fisheries management and maritime security in the Pacific,” said Dr Tupou-Roosen.
“This operation exemplifies the spirit of regional collaboration and determination among Pacific Island nations. Through comprehensive compliance checks of vessels and operators, we are ensuring the effective management and preservation of our marine resources, which are vital for the livelihoods and food security of our people.”
Over 353 vessel contacts were made during OPIC24 using air, surface assets and port States, with a total of 153 boarding inspections conducted both in port and at sea.
Additionally, 206 aircraft sightings and 1,146 satellite detections were recorded.
The US Coast Guard in Honiara during the Operation. Photo supplied
As a result of Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) analysis and inspections, eight vessels of interest (VOIs) were identified and reported to Members for further investigation, with potential infringements related to non-compliance with national and WCPFC conservation management measures.
Thirteen FFA Members participated in OPIC24, including Australia, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. They were supported by technology partners and personnel from the Pacific QUADs—Australia, France, New Zealand, and the United States.
Boarding of vessel in Fiji during the Operation. Photo supplied
Key focus areas of OPIC24 included boarding activities, cooperative surveillance engagements among FFA Members and Pacific QUADs countries, and the use of remote sensing information provided by the governments of Canada, the United States, and New Zealand to drive the intelligence-led operation.
Operation Island Chief 2024 in the Federated States of Micronesia. Photo supplied
In preparation for the operation, the FFA Secretariat and partners provided capability enhancement training from 29 July to 2 August. The training involved 25 secondees from various organisations, including the Australian Defence Force, Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Fiji Fisheries and Navy, FSM Fisheries, PNG Defence, Kiribati Fisheries, Solomon Islands Fisheries and Maritime Police, Vanuatu Fisheries and Maritime Police, United States Coast Guard, and FFA seconded officials.
Group photo of the Operation Island Chief 2024 team at the FFA Headquarters Regional Surveillance Centre in Honiara. Photo by FFA Media
The success of OPIC24 was made possible through the support of partners such as Starboard Maritime Intelligence, the Canadian Government’s Dark Vessel Detection (DVD) programme, the Joint Analytical Cell (Global Fishing Watch, IMCS Network), the US Military’s Joint Integrated Task Force West (JIATF-W), the Pacific Community (SPC), and the WCPFC Secretariat.
HONIARA, 19 August 2024
| Media Contacts: Emily V. Moli FFA Communications Manager e: [email protected] Ernest Ta'asi FFA Communications Officer e: ernest.ta’[email protected] Priscilla Ragu FFA Communications Officer e: [email protected] |  |
| About Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) FFA assists its 17 Members to sustainably manage fishery resources that fall within their 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). FFA provides expertise, technical assistance and other support to its members who make decisions about their tuna resources and participate in regional decision making on tuna management. Find out more here: www.ffa.int |
|
