Samoa Dockside Boarding and Inspection Training

In an effort to enhance regional fisheries enforcement, the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) is supporting boarding and inspection of fishing vessels in Samoa, to ensure compliance with fisheries management regulations.

Twenty-one (21) officers from the Samoa Fisheries Division and the Police Maritime Unit underwent training at Apia, Samoa from 26 – 30 May 2025. The invitation was also extended to the two officials from Niue Fisheries under a multilateral  training activity under the Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement.

In his opening remarks, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Samoa Fisheries, Roseti Imo,  encouraged participants to engage fully, share their on-the-job experiences in vessel inspections in Samoa waters, and to use the opportunity to ask any questions to the regional expertise from FFA, the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA).

The training aimed to build the capacity of national compliance officers through:

• Safe and effective vessel inspection techniques;

• Understanding the legal frameworks and operational protocols to do compliance checks of conservation management measures;

• Practical boarding and risk assessment exercises; and

• Raise awareness of Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS) tools to support vessel risk assessment and intelligence analysis.

This capability development initiative was undertaken  in response to a MCS priority request under the FFA and Samoa Country Partnership Agreement (CPA) and was delivered in partnership with MPI and AFMA. The training emphasized regional cooperation and professional development.

FFA Surveillance Operation Officer, Yohni Fepuleai outlined the focus of empowering boarding practitioners with best practice procedures for conducting a safe and effective inspection of fishing vessels in Samoa, as well as engaging cooperative boarding activities at sea with surveillance partners.

The FFA Secretariat also presented Boarding Officers JOB AID gears, including mobile tablets, cameras, radios and lifejackets- as part of its  support to strengthen operational  resources for the effective  implementation of their duties.

The five-day training was made possible through  the FFA Pacific Islands Regional Oceanscape Program – Second Phase for Economic Resilience (PROPER) Project, the Government of Samoa, and all partners who contributed.

APIA, 30 MAY 2025

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