TWELVE members of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) took part in Operation Rai Balang 2025, which ended last Friday with the detection of seven high risk vessels of interest.
The crackdown on illegal fishing across 14 million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean took place from March 3 to 31 using updated technology, thorough training and closer coordination to address potential infringements.
“During the Operation, FFA members conducted 96 boardings, tracked 189 vessel contacts and identified 7629 satellite detections,” FFA said in a statement.
“The operation resulted in the detection of seven high risk vessels of interest.”
FFA director-general Noan Pakop highlighted the success of Operation Rai Balang 2025 and the role of intelligence analysis in guiding effective planning and targeted surveillance by maritime assets and boarding teams.
“Our daily intelligence work at the Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre has been crucial to identifying and stopping illegal fishing activities,” he said.
Mr Pakop acknowledged the 12 FFA members who took part, the involvement of the Pacific QUADs, and the ongoing support of monitoring, control and surveillance partners in strengthening regional operations to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
In addition to FFA maritime domain awareness tools, officers used a range of high-technology systems such as TUFMAN 2, is a tuna fisheries data management platform; HawkEye 360, a radio-frequency tracking tool; Starboard Maritime Intelligence, a data analysis platform; a DVD system that handles digital verification and Maxar, which provides satellite imagery.
The operation detected potential non-compliance with conservation management measures in several members’ Exclusive Economic Zones and high seas areas that will be pursued through national and regional enforcement action processes.
FFA members involved in Operation Rai Balang are Australia, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
