Monitoring, Control and Surveillance

Our Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre (RFSC) is an important part of our Fisheries Operations Division.

The Centre provides fisheries surveillance for all our Members. It is located at the FFA headquarter in Honiara, Solomon Islands, manned by 9 staff as well as seconded officials from Australia and New Zealand Defence Force.

The RFSC’s mission is to support and assist our Members to monitor, control and surveil fishing activity to counter illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in their exclusive economic zone and the adjacent high seas pockets and areas.

Our three RFSC core functions are:

1. IUU Risk Analysis and Identification – Maintain and transmit an accurate Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) picture displaying cumulative IUU risk assessment within the area of operation (AO) that assists FFA members to conduct effective MCS activities and deploy targeted responses.
2. Surveillance Planning and Coordination:  Plan, coordinate and support targeted and integrated regional surveillance and MCS responses through Operations that make the most effective use of the FFA Aerial Surveillance program and other available assets; and 
3. Capability Development: Support, coordinate and deliver advice, training and tools that enhance the national MCS capacity and capability of members.

The RFSC keeps us aware of what’s going on in oceanic fisheries in our region

Our situational awareness about oceanic fisheries across the FFA region comes from the ongoing, year-round monitoring  done by the RFSC.

The RFSC team generates and maintains a Regional Surveillance Picture (RSP) our risk-assessed ‘operating picture’ of oceanic fishing vessels within the region.

Our work is relationship-building and practical

The RFSC team support our Members efforts by:

• developing and disseminating the Regional Surveillance Picture (RSP) and the Regional Information Management System (RIMS).
• identifying target areas or vessels, and plan surveillance activity through real-time risk analysis of fishing vessels across the region
• analysing the RSP and other information we receive using data gleaned from the vessel monitoring system (FFA and WCPFC data), automatic identification system (AIS), registration and licence lists and 
• sharing information and data analysis to members and partners, as appropriate
• planning and coordinating regional surveillance operations each year (Operations Rai Balang, Tui Moana, Island Chief and Kuru Kuru, which involves MCS cooperation, and build national capacity
• coordinating surveillance support to  our members by  ‘QUADs partners’ (Defence forces of  Australia, France, New Zealand and the United States).
• overseeing, planning and coordinating the Aerial Surveillance Programme: we use two King Air aircrafts to conduct surveillance based on our Pacific Island members’ requests—this is a part of Australia’s Pacific Maritime Surveillance Program (includes initiatives such as secondment to the RFSC during surveillance operations, advice on managing and operating the RSP, vessel monitoring system training sessions, and other support).
• maintaining relationships with and between:
  • national representatives from fisheries, police, and defence organisations, who work together to support maritime security in the region
  • Quadrilateral Defence Coordination Group (QUADs partners) consisting of Australia, France, New Zealand and the United States, who share joint and combined operational plans across the south-west Pacific, with coordination and assistance from us
  • regional law enforcement agencies and other regional organisations who need fisheries information for broader law enforcement activities
  • the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)—we maintain a strong professional relationship with WCPFC and SPC to access data and tools as well as coordinate regional MCS efforts, 
• supporting bilateral and multilateral cooperative monitoring and surveillance activities between parties to the multilateral Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement, as its administrator—ensuring active participation, sharing resources and exchanging fisheries information.

We also support wider maritime domain awareness objectives with RFSC surveillance tools and analysis if our members request it—following strict protocols under the Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement and other existing FFA policies.