International Team Catches Dozens of Vessels Suspected of Illegal Fishing In Pacific Ocean
EINNEWS, November 23— A total of 35 vessels suspected of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Pacific Ocean have been caught by an international team of nations determined to keep illegal seafood products from entering Pacific ports.
The coordinating team was in the Solomon Islands and included representatives from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, France, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Papua, and New Guinea. The area under surveillance covered 12 million square kilometers and involved 840 hours of sea patrols and 120 hours of air surveillance.
The Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) enlisted 550 people who identified 185 vessels operating in the region, with 35 of those vessels warranting further investigation. One vessel was found to be carrying an excess of sharks fins and was fined $10,000.
Illegal and unreported fishing in the Pacific has been a growing concern. Recent reports of devastation in some species, including sharks, has prompted many nations to join a UN-backed treaty to "Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing."
Canada, which already has a tough port-access policy, signed the treaty on Monday. The agreement's measures include standardizing requirements for the information provided by vessels seeking port entry, denying port entry and services to vessels implicated in IUU fishing activities, and setting standards for vessel inspections and inspector training. The agreement will go into effect once it's ratified by 25 FAO members.
The coordinating team was in the Solomon Islands and included representatives from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, France, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Papua, and New Guinea. The area under surveillance covered 12 million square kilometers and involved 840 hours of sea patrols and 120 hours of air surveillance.
The Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) enlisted 550 people who identified 185 vessels operating in the region, with 35 of those vessels warranting further investigation. One vessel was found to be carrying an excess of sharks fins and was fined $10,000.
Illegal and unreported fishing in the Pacific has been a growing concern. Recent reports of devastation in some species, including sharks, has prompted many nations to join a UN-backed treaty to "Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing."
Canada, which already has a tough port-access policy, signed the treaty on Monday. The agreement's measures include standardizing requirements for the information provided by vessels seeking port entry, denying port entry and services to vessels implicated in IUU fishing activities, and setting standards for vessel inspections and inspector training. The agreement will go into effect once it's ratified by 25 FAO members.
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