Solomon Islands Hosts Region's Biggest Maritime Surveillance Operation This Week

[Dreamtime]

Solomon Islands hosts region's biggest maritime surveillance operation this week

HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS: Operation Kurukuru 2008, a coordinated maritime surveillance operation in which countries cooperate to detect activities such as illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, smuggling and people trafficking, was hosted by the Solomon Islands this week.

500 people were actively involved in Operation Kurukuru 2008 which resulted in locating 300 foreign fishing vessels in the area of operations, 20 of which were considered worthy of further investigation after analysis. 30 days of patrol at sea were provided plus the four aircraft involved in the operation undertook 100 hours of aerial surveillance.

Covering an area of 10.6 million square kilometres - including the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of Cook Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu – Operation Kurukuru 2008 involved surveillance and law enforcement staff from all of these countries working together with their counterparts from Australia, New Zealand, France and US over 12 days of surveillance.

Surveillance was conducted by individual countries within their respective EEZ's using 8 Pacific Class Patrol Boats (from Cook Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga (2), Tuvalu, Kiribati and Vanuatu), 4 US Coast Guard Cutters and 1 French Frigate. This was supported by aerial surveillance provided by 4 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (2 P-3 Orions supplied by Australia & New Zealand, a Guardian supplied by France and a Hercules C-130 from the US Coast Guard).

Operation Kurukuru 2008 was coordinated by a team based in the Solomon Islands Police Force Maritime Unit's newly launched Operations Room, upgraded with funding from the Australian Defence Cooperation Program. The Operations Room relies on access to the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) E-Operations system which collects, displays and analyses aircraft and vessel movements over the entire operations area in an interactive display. By collating information from regional and national licence and suspected illegal fishing lists, the E-Operations system can identify and monitor suspicious vessels. Regional surveillance staff, trained by FFA in how to use the E-Operations system, then can prioritise their operations efforts, contact national staff and make decisions on where to allocate surveillance aircraft and patrol boats.

Operation Kurukuru 2008 also involved participation by United States Navy as an observer in the regional headquarters with a view to providing aircraft participation next year for the first time, signing of an enduring VMS data sharing agreement by Samoa with all other FFA members and a visit by Australian Defence Minister Hon Joel Fitzgibbon on 10 Sep to view the operation in progress. Operation Kurukuru is an activity to meet the broader objectives of sustainable development and regional security of The Pacific Plan.

MEDIA CONTACTS – See comments next page. For further information & people to interview –

For Solomon Islands media: Sergeant Godfrey Abiah, SI Police Media Unit: 24016 For Pacific countries and international media: Anouk Ride, Tel: +677 94548 (or 21124) Email: anouk.ride@ffa.int For Australian media: Australian Department of Defence Media Liason, Tel: +61 2 6265 3343 or +61 408 498 664

COMMENTS – OPERATION KURUKURU 2008

Director of the Maritime Unit of SIPF, Eddie Tokuru said: "Solomon Islands Police Force Maritime Unit is pleased to host Operation Kurukuru 2008 and contribute to cooperative approach in regional surveillance operations".

Air Commodore Tony Jones, Director General Pacific and East Timor, International Policy Division, Australian Department of Defence, said: "The Australian Defence Co-Operation Program is pleased to see the improvement in regional co-operation in maritime law enforcement fostered by the conduct of Operation Kurukuru again this year."

Director of Fisheries Operations of FFA, Luatutu Andre Volentras said: "FFA is proud to be a part of Operation Kurukuru which has brought Pacific Island countries and territories together this week to share information and resources to survey our seas and combat illegal fishing. Using FFA support such as training, the E-Operations Room and FFA Vessel Monitoring System, participants in this operation have demonstrated skills, capability and regional solidarity."

Edited September 16, 2008 by Mariner 31

[pelican]

Great to see. If the smaller countries can keep their ecconomic zones patrolled with others helping it may help protect fish stocks and security of all countries involved. Just watch those French they have a habit of boarding and opening yur seacocks.

[Hodgey]

An interesting read, Carl. I assume by the tone of the article that this was an overt operation, mate. Did you witness any noticable activity on your water or in your ports? Considering the diversity of the operation, it would be a jurisdictional nightmare to organise, so they should be commended on a fantastic effort.

Cheers

Hodgey

[Dreamtime]

An interesting read, Carl. I assume by the tone of the article that this was an overt operation, mate. Did you witness any noticable activity on your water or in your ports? Considering the diversity of the operation, it would be a jurisdictional nightmare to organise, so they should be commended on a fantastic effort.

Cheers

Hodgey

Very interesting indeed Hodgey. I was totally unaware of the operation until I read this article.

I think it would have been very difficult to co-ordinate without the assistance given by other countries.

Definately a thumbs up for their co-operation.

Cheers

Carl

[Dreamtime]

Surprise, surprise!!!!

Here's an email I just received after copying this article to FFA???????

Overt, covert - got me buggered why their own officers didn't know about it!!

Hey Carl

Where the hell did you get this from? Seems you have a better network than I. Cheers

Lamiller Pawut

FFA Surveillance Operations Officer

Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency

HONIARA

Solomon Islands

Phone: (677) 21124

Fax (677) 23995 /26895

WWW.ffa.int

[Hodgey]

Hmmmm. The article definitely had an overt tone (out in the open for all the world to see with bells and whistles). I have to share your curiosity ... how the hell did all this happen without the surveillance officer knowing? Verrrrry strange

Cheers

Hodgey

[Dreamtime]

POLICE CATCH, DETAIN BOATS - Japanese fishing vessels held here

Tuesday, 16 September 2008

POLICE caught two Japanese vessels allegedly fishing illegally in our waters at the weekend.

The two vessels, Sevuku and Kinei Maru 118, were intercepted by Patrol boat Lata during the joint Operation Kurukuru.

They were searched and escorted to Aola base at Point Cruz.

Kinei Maru 118 was seized for allegedly making two illegal trans-shipments outside of the designated ports of Honiara and Noro.

Sevuku was held for fishing in our waters without a valid license. But sources said Sevuku was released yesterday without any good reasons.

Responsible authorities are tightlipped about the incident saying it is currently under investigation. Our sources said the release of Sevuku was highly suspicious.

One source said when police entered the vessel, it had no licence. But on arrival in Honiara, its licence was renewed and the vessel was released at the orders of Fisheries minister Nollen Leni.

The source said Mr Leni gave the orders following pressure from the Japanese Government.

“The permanent secretary for Fisheries was in Japan at the moment and he was pressured to negotiate the release of the vessel,” the source said.

Mr Leni on Monday told the Solomon Star he was “too busy” to comment.

The Forum Fisheries Agency said it is aware of the arrests and is working closely with the Ministry of Fisheries on that.

By EDNAL PALMER

[arpie]

OMG!! Carl, you may have let the cat out of the bag before the operation had concluded!!!

Any illegal fishing boats, I reckon, should be stripped of all usable bits for locals & then sunk to make new reefs!

Roberta

.....Sevuku was released yesterday without any good reasons...... sounds a bit suss!!

[Dreamtime]

OMG!! Carl, you may have let the cat out of the bag before the operation had concluded!!!

Any illegal fishing boats, I reckon, should be stripped of all usable bits for locals & then sunk to make new reefs!

Roberta

.....Sevuku was released yesterday without any good reasons...... sounds a bit suss!!

It seems that the Japanes have their own set of rules - look at "Whaling research"