The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) has successfully completed Operation RAIBALANG 2026 by RSIPV (Royal Solomon Islands Police Vessel) Gizo, reaffirming the organisation’s ongoing commitment to safeguard Solomon Islands’ maritime domain.
Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in a statement yesterday said Operation RAIBALANG is a multilateral regional initiative coordinated under the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and was conducted from 3 to 4 March 2026.
The operation brought together Pacific partners to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing while strengthening maritime security across the region.
RSIPF said during this operation, RSIPV Gizo patrolled extensively across Solomon Islands waters, covering a total of 2,087.92 nautical miles during the operation.
Throughout this patrol, the team conducted 14 vessel boardings, including six Chinese-flagged vessels, seven Taiwanese-flagged vessels, and one local fishing vessel.
The boarding teams with support from an onboard fisheries officer also carried out thorough inspections to ensure compliance with fisheries regulations.
“These inspections involved verifying fishing licences and conditions, examining catch logs and reporting records, assessing crew welfare, conducting searches for any illicit or illegal activities, and inspecting vessel documentation as well as storage areas.
“All vessels boarded were found to be fully compliant with their licence conditions and remain in good standing with the Forum Fisheries Agency,” said RSIPF.
Commanding Officer of RSIPV Gizo, Superintendent Naotoro, emphasised the importance of maintaining a visible maritime presence within Solomon Islands’ Exclusive Economic Zone as a strong deterrent to illegal fishing and other maritime crimes.
He raised the need to increase patrol frequency in the eastern EEZ and other remote areas that were not fully covered during this operation.
This patrol also had some initial challenges such as adverse weather conditions and crew fatigue due to limited rest.
Nevertheless, the team demonstrated resilience and professionalism to successfully complete the mission.
RSIPF said the Operation RAIBALANG’s success was possible through strong regional cooperation and support, including aerial surveillance provided by the Pacific Maritime Security Program (PMSP) and QUAD partners, analytical support from the Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre at the Forum Fisheries Agency, and maritime domain awareness support from the Police Maritime Operations Centre.
Commander RSIPF Maritime, Superintendent Nevol Soko, commended the crew of RSIPV Gizo and the fisheries officers for their dedication and professionalism in protecting Solomon Islands’ marine resources.
He also acknowledged the Australian Government, through the Defence Cooperation Program (DCP), for its continued support in funding this important operation.
“The RSIPF remains committed to working closely with regional and international partners to ensure our oceans remain secure, sustainable, and free from illegal activities,” the statement said.
Photo credit: RSIPF
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