Only some of the 250 vessels rounded up by the joint Fiji and New Zealand Navy operation were identified as Fijian registered vessels. This was confirmed by the Republic

by ashna kumar , suva

Fiji Navy Commander Captain (Navy) Humphrey Tawake (left), with Maritime Component Commander Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Commodore James Gilmour during the Joint Press Briefing on naval cooperation on July 27, 2017. Photo: Vilimoni Vaganalau

Only some of the 250 vessels rounded up by the joint Fiji and New Zealand Navy operation were identified as Fijian registered vessels.

This was confirmed by the Republic of Fiji Navy Commander Captain (Navy) Humphrey Tawake during a joint press conference between Fiji Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy at the Naval Base in Walu Bay, Suva yesterday.

Captain Tawake confirmed that majority were foreign fishing vessels transiting through Fiji waters either for fishing activities or licenses issues and or on replenishment coming into Suva or Lautoka for stores and supplies.

“The infringements in terms of fisheries loss and any maritime issues have been addressed to the relevant authorities which are the Ministry of Fisheries and the Maritime Safety Authority (MSAF),” Captain Tawake said.

“We are not aware if any of the vessels are involved in the transnational crimes but I can confirm that none of them that we boarded had recorded participation in any illegal activities.

“It is a concern for us given the maritime gap that we have and the huge space that we have but we also have other mechanisms in place to monitor through collaborations with our partners and the regional arrangements.

“It is something that we are working on and can improve; we are thankful that Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Hawea has contributed and assisted us to close the gap that we have in terms of the threat.

“There is a proposal that has been put out for the expansion of the maritime capability of Fiji which is through the navy.

“That is something that we are working on at the moment.”

Edited by Karalaini Waqanidrola

Feedback: ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj