During Operation Island Chief 2024 (OPIC24), over 353 contacts with vessels were recorded. This regional initiative aims to monitor and ensure the sustainability of fisheries in the Pacific. Following the operation’s conclusion earlier this week, eight vessels of interest were flagged for potential violations of sustainable fishing regulations.
The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) highlighted that these vessels were identified through Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) analyses and inspections, with reported non-compliance related to both national and Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) conservation measures.
The operation involved extensive surveillance to protect marine resources within the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of FFA members and in the broader Western Central Pacific Ocean. Agents conducted a total of 153 boarding inspections both in ports and at sea, along with 206 aircraft sightings and 1,146 satellite detections throughout the mission.
This joint operation lasted for 12 days and was executed by FFA members, the Pacific Quadrilateral Defence Coordination Group (Pacific QUADs), and various other partners. The operation spanned the combined EEZs of 11 participating FFA members and neighboring high seas, covering approximately 18.2 million square kilometers.
Dr. Manu Tupou-Roosen, the FFA director-general, stated that the operation reflects the agency’s commitment to sustainable fisheries management and maritime security in the Pacific. He emphasized the importance of regional collaboration among Pacific Island nations in managing and preserving marine resources which are crucial for the people’s livelihoods and food security.
Thirteen FFA members participated 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, supported by technology partners and personnel from the Pacific QUADs.
Key operation areas included vessel boarding activities and cooperative surveillance among FFA members and Pacific QUADs countries, utilizing remote sensing data provided by Canada, the US, and New Zealand for an intelligence-driven operation.
Ahead of OPIC24, the FFA Secretariat conducted training sessions from July 29 to August 2 for 25 secondees from various organizations, including the Australian Defence Force, various national fisheries and navies, and the United States Coast Guard.
Other supporting partners for the operation included Starboard Maritime Intelligence, the Canadian Government’s Dark Vessel Detection program, the Joint Analytical Cell, and the WCPFC Secretariat.