Over 353 vessel contacts were recorded during Operation Island Chief 2024 (OPIC24), a collaborative initiative aimed at monitoring and safeguarding fisheries in the Pacific region. Concluded earlier this week, the operation identified eight vessels of interest suspected of violating sustainable fishing regulations.
According to a statement from the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), analysis of Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) along with inspections led to the identification of these vessels for potential non-compliance with national and Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) conservation measures.
The operation involved extensive surveillance efforts to protect marine resources within the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of FFA members and the adjacent Western Central Pacific Ocean. A total of 153 boarding inspections were conducted both in port and at sea, alongside 206 aircraft sightings and 1,146 satellite detections.
This 12-day joint operation was conducted by FFA members, the Pacific Quadrilateral Defence Coordination Group (Pacific QUADs), and various partners, covering an area of approximately 18.2 million square kilometers, which included the combined EEZs of 11 participating FFA members as well as adjacent high seas areas.
Dr. Manu Tupou-Roosen, FFA director-general, emphasized the operation’s significance in demonstrating the commitment of FFA towards sustainable fisheries management and maritime security in the Pacific. “This operation exemplifies the spirit of regional collaboration and determination among Pacific Island nations,” said Dr. Tupou-Roosen, adding that through rigorous compliance checks, the effort aims to manage and preserve marine resources vital to the livelihoods and food security of the communities involved.
Thirteen FFA members took part in OPIC24, including Australia, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, with support from technology partners from Pacific QUADs—Australia, France, New Zealand, and the United States.
Key aspects of OPIC24 involved boarding operations, collaborative surveillance activities among FFA members and Pacific QUADs, and utilizing remote sensing data provided by Canada, the US, and New Zealand to inform the operation.
In advance of the operation, the FFA Secretariat and its partners conducted training sessions from July 29 to August 2 for 25 secondees from various organizations, including the Australian Defence Force and several fisheries and maritime police agencies from the region, enhancing their capabilities for cooperative work.
Other supporting partners included Starboard Maritime Intelligence, the Canadian Government’s Dark Vessel Detection program, the Joint Analytical Cell, the US Military’s Joint Integrated Task Force West, the Pacific Community, and the WCPFC Secretariat.