Throughout the year, AFMA works regularly with our Pacific neighbours, including the United States, on operations and capacity building activities to improve global fisheries management.
In the last 12 months, AFMA has joined the United States Coast Guard (USCG) on four patrols targeting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The most recent multi-unit law enforcement patrol was designed to leverage the capabilities of more than one vessel – the USCG cutter Sequoia and cutter Washington which operate out of Guam. The vessels worked across two separate jurisdictional areas.
The Sequoia, with AFMA staff on board, conducted a bilateral fisheries patrol in the Federated States of Micronesia Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), while the Washington conducted a boarding in adjacent high seas under the authority of the Western and Central pacific Fisheries Commission.
Demonstrating the support that exists for regional agency collaboration our two officers joined an experienced team of ‘ship riders’ aboard the Sequoia, consisting of an officer from the Federated States of Micronesia’s National Police, a Mandarin interpreter from the United States Marine Corps.
The patrol resulted in six fishing vessels boarded in the Federated States of Micronesia EEZ, which were all found to be compliant with FSM fisheries legislation and licensing conditions. While embarked, the boarding teams took measures to encourage better crew safety and health whilst on-board the fishing vessels.
This coordinated operation ensured the effective enforcement of fisheries regulations in the region with the Federated States of Micronesia fisheries legislation and the WCPFC Conservation and Management Measures.
AFMA looks forward to continuing our work in this space and working with our regional partners.