BY SAMIE WAIKORI
The Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) members have successfully concluded “Operation Kurukuru 2025”, which targeted Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Pacific.
The operation was reported to be the region’s largest coordinated maritime surveillance, and marks the inaugural implementation of the FFA’s Regional Monitoring Control and Surveillance (RMSS) Strategy 2024-2029.
According to FFA, the strategy is a coordinated regional plan from its 15 members including Australia and New Zealand, aimed to counter IUU fishing in the Pacific.
The strategy focuses on strengthening vessel oversight, ensuring catch traceability, and integrating surveillance efforts through regional cooperation and advanced tools like remote sensing and intelligence-driven surveillance.
Key goals include reducing IUU fishing, ensuring laws can be monitored and enforced, and implementing digital monitoring and reporting tools to support national and regional strategies.
In a press conference yesterday, FFA officials shared key highlights of Operation Kurukuru, which resulted in the arrest of a vessel, Hua Sheng 1, on Wednesday this week at the Indispensable Reefs, 50km South of Rennel Bellona.
During the operation, which highly coordinated by 17 FFA members, more than 30 million square kilometres of Pacific region were covered.
A total of 56 vessel sightings, 126 vessel boardings, 11 vessels of interest and 1 vessel being detained.
FFA Director General, Noan David Pakop in his statement said Operation Kurukuru 2025 is more than just an annual surveillance exercise. It marks the first full year implementation of our Regional MCS Strategy.
“It demonstrates how policy commitments are being put into action through coordinated patrols, intelligence sharing and targeted enforcement.
“Our members are using data and technology more effectively than ever to protect their tuna resources,” he said.
Island Sun reported yesterday that the vessel, which found with local and foreign crews, is being detained at the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) Maritime Unit Aola Patrol Base, awaiting investigation.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource (MFMR), which played pivotal role together with FFA and RSIPF in the operation, said investigation on this locally flagged vessel begun yesterday.
A spokesperson told Island Sun on Thursday that if the investigation found some breach of law, then, penalties would then be imposed whether through fine or court.
“Now it is still in the early stage of investigation,” said the spokesperson.
At the moment, it is too early to say whether the vessel was involved in illegal fishing or breached conditions with FFA.
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