PNG Fishery Authority Signs Surveillance Pact ff
14 October 2002
Papua New Guinea
The Papua New Guinea Defence Force and the Fisheries Authority have entered into an agreement for the force's Maritime Element to carry out surveillance of PNG waters.
The agreement, to start immediately, formalises a long-standing arrangement where the Defence Force and the Fisheries Authorities have been working together to protect PNG's fisheries resources from illegal foreign fishing vessels.
Two patrol boats will be engaged in the surveillance exercise. The agreement will not be a "stand alone" exercise, but countries like Australia and New Zealand would help using their surveillance network. There will be 10 patrols per year where the boats would be out for 10 days at a time.
About eight illegal fishing boats have been impounded in the last two years. With the increase in the patrols, more illegal fishing boats could be caught and prosecuted.
