WHAT WE DO

Monitoring, Control and Surveillance of Pacific tuna fishing activities

Link to: Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre

Surveillance

Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre

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Link to: Aerial Surveillance Programme

Surveillance

Aerial Surveillance Programme

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Link to: MCS Policy Support

Policy

MCS Policy support to members

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Link to: Vessel Monitoring System

Vessel monitoring

Vessel Register & Vessel Monitoring System

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Link to: Regional Observer Programme

Observation

Regional Observer Programme (UST)

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Link to: Information Communication Technology

Technical support

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Team

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Monitoring, Control and Surveillance

of Pacific tuna fishing activities through our Fisheries Operation Division

Despite significant progress, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing still exists in Pacific tuna fisheries. The most recent estimate for 2017–19 is for 192,186 tonnes of IUU fishing, worth USD$333 million (ex-vessel value).

IUU fishing is mostly:

  • driven by licensed vessels (over 95% of the total estimated volume and value of IUU activity)
  • due to under-reporting, misreporting and non-reporting catches.

We focus on improving levels of compliance among licensed fleets.

We also want to strengthen national capacity and regional solidarity to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing in the Pacific, so we must provide policy and services for our Members.

Our work in this area involves:

  • giving policy and technical expertise
  • sharing information
  • creating and implementing monitoring projects
  • conducting regional surveillance
  • running the FFA Regional Observer programme, Vessel Monitoring System and licence information list
  • controlling fishing in Members’ waters by providing Minimum Terms and Conditions for licensed vessels.

How does this relate to our Strategic Outcomes?

Strategies to achieve Strategic Outcome #3 (from Strategic Plan 2020-25):

  1. Ensure measures and laws that define fisheries rights and control fishing activity can be effectively monitored and enforced.
  2. Reduce IUU through the implementation of the Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Strategy (RMCSS) at the national and regional level..
  3. Improve Monitoring, Control and Surveillance on the high seas.
  4. Strengthen the capacity of relevant Members to implement their responsibilities as flag, port and processing States
  5. Actively participate in the WCPFC compliance processes
  6. Utilise international forums to enhance global recognition and adoption of zone-based management and protect Members’ fishing rights.
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Regional Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS) Strategy 2024-2029

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The vision of this Strategy is

“Our people enjoying the greatest possible social and economic benefits from the sustainable use of offshore fisheries resources”.

This is the vision for the region’s fisheries outlined in the FFA Strategic Plan 2020-2025 and recognises that MCS is one component of the overall fisheries management and development system in the region which need to work together to achieve FFA Members’ overarching vision.

The goal of this Strategy is to optimise compliance with fisheries management frameworks in the Pacific Islands region.

EXAMPLES OF THE WORK WE DO IN MONITORING, CONTROL AND SURVEILLANCE OF PACIFIC TUNA FISHING ACTIVITIES

Operation Island Chief reinforces Pacific unity against illegal fishing

FFA applauds landmark Operation Ika Moana led by Samoa

Fiji inaugurates new monitoring centre to battle illegal fishing

Monitoring, control and surveillance operation to help stop illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing a success

Regional Cooperation ensures 17 Passengers rescued from boat in distress

pacific response to illegal fishing

New high tech tools trialled in Pacific response to illegal fishing

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing in the Pacific

Illegal Unreported Unregulated Tuna Fishing IUU

Pacific fisheries protected through co-operative surveillance operation

The Pacific Way – Cooperation in MCS Technologies

Pacific Fisheries Surveillance

Pacific Fisheries Surveillance Operation a success

Fisheries Surveillance crucial to protecting Pacific Island economies

FFA wins global stop IUU fishing prize

Pacific leaders welcome state of the art aerial surveillance

IUU cases open up in wake of regional ‘Island Chief’ Fisheries Operation

Tui Moana

Intel and analysis continues as Tui Moana surveillance sweep ends

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