FFA opens nominations for Diploma in Fisheries Investigation and Prosecution
The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) has opened nominations for FFA Members to take part in the second cohort of its Diploma in Fisheries Investigation and Prosecution programme, providing a new opportunity for fisheries compliance and enforcement personnel across the region to strengthen their investigation and prosecution skills.
The programme, delivered in partnership with The University of the South Pacific (USP) Pacific TAFE and regional partners, is designed to build the specialised competencies required to support effective fisheries investigations, evidence management and prosecution of fisheries violations across FFA’s 17 Members.
Nominations are required to be submitted by the responsible national fisheries or relevant authority, and are not open to direct public applications.
The programme is scheduled to run from 10 August 2026 – 30 July 2027 and targets fisheries compliance officers, fisheries investigators, prosecutors, legal officers, maritime police, customs officers, fisheries observers, port inspectors, navy personnel and other authorised officers involved in fisheries enforcement and compliance activities.
The programme was recently endorsed at the 142nd Annual Officials Meeting of the Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC142) in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand.
This diploma programme forms part of FFA’s broader investment in fisheries compliance and enforcement capacity across the Pacific.
“Through partnerships with USP Pacific TAFE and regional organisations, FFA supports a range of specialised training programmes in monitoring, control and surveillance, fisheries enforcement, boarding and inspection, data analysis, investigations and prosecutions,” said FFA Director-General Noan David Pakop.
He said the initiative contributes to regional efforts to strengthen compliance systems and combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing across FFA Members.
Mr Pakop reiterated the FFA’s ongoing commitment to supporting its Members with practical skills and training that strengthen fisheries governance and enforcement outcomes.
“The Diploma in Fisheries Investigation and Prosecution provides participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to investigate fisheries offences, manage evidence, prepare prosecution case files and support successful prosecution processes,” he added.
The USP-accredited qualification will be delivered through a blended learning approach, combining online coursework, practical exercises, case studies, simulations, assessments and virtual tutorials. Face-to-face practical assessments and prosecution simulations are expected to take place in Fiji in 2027.
FFA will provide scholarships covering tuition fees, international travel, accommodation and daily subsistence allowances for the one week face-to-face component of the programme.
Participants will undertake five specialised courses covering powers and authorities within Pacific fisheries legal systems, fisheries incident scene management, investigative interviewing, fisheries case file development and fisheries prosecution procedures.
The programme aims to strengthen regional capability in fisheries investigations and prosecutions while promoting greater cooperation among Pacific fisheries enforcement agencies.
FFA has encouraged Members to nominate suitable candidates through their relevant fisheries or national authorities and continues to promote equal opportunities for women and men to participate in regional capacity development initiatives.
Nominations close on 26 June 2026.
For further details about the program, please contact the FFA Training Advisor, Ms Rigieta Lord, at [email protected]
HONIARA, 03 June 2026
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| 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 |
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