Foreign ship caught at Indispensable Reef under Kurukuru operation which targets illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing
BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
A fishing vessel is being detained at the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Maritime Unit Aola Patrol Base awaiting further investigation.
HUA SHENG 1 was apprehended on Wednesday this week at the Indispensable Reefs 50km south of Rennell Island and escorted to the patrol base at around 6-7pm.
An officer from the RSIPF Maritime Unit on condition of anonymity told Island Sun yesterday at the Aola base that the vessel was captured during a joint operation known as “Operation Kurukuru”.
“Operation Kurukuru is an annual initiative by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Pacific. With regards to this one, it is a joint operation between the RSIPF Maritime Unit, FFA, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR),” the officer said.
The vessel’s crew includes foreign nationals and locals as witnessed by Island Sun on the ground yesterday.
When contacted for comment, a Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) spokesperson from the Compliance Division who also spoke on condition of anonymity said the joint operation investigation started last week.
“This matter is now under investigation. Right now (yesterday) we are preparing to go and conduct inspection on the vessel and crews,” she told Island Sun yesterday via phone call.
“As of now, no further detail will be provided until investigation is caried out. We usually have an operation three times a year. We join with FFA, and Police. It is called operation Kurukuru which involved Patrol engagement to monitor activities in our waters,” she said.
She said that the operation is part of the (MFMR) and every year to ensure that these vessels comply to their conditions under the MFMR police and laws.
“So, it was from that operation that the vessel was seized and escorted to Aola police base for detention and thorough investigation. They seized the vessel at Indispensable Reefs. A locally flagged vessel but includes foreign and local crew members,” she said.
She said that the joint investigation is between RSIPF, FFA and MFMR.
She said that Operation Kurukuru ended this week since commencement last week.
“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,” the spokesperson said.
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