HONIARA, 17 AUGUST 2026 (FFA)—Sixteen vessels of interest (VOIs) were identified during Operation Island Chief 2026 (OPIC26), one of the higher numbers recorded in recent FFA coordinated regional surveillance operations, as Members and partners stepped up fisheries monitoring activities across the region. The two-week long operation, coordinated by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) […]
Tag: illegal fishing
Posted inBillboard
World Oceans Day Highlights Pacific’s Deep Connection to the Ocean
By: Ngeldei Tulop From Palau to Polynesia, Pacific Island nations marked World Oceans Day on Monday by emphasizing the importance of protecting marine resources as climate change and other environmental pressures continue to affect ocean ecosystems. For Pacific Island nations, the ocean serves as more than a source of food and economic activity. It is […]
Posted inIn Focus
Ocean Experts: Protection — Nearshore and Offshore — Remains Top Priority as High Seas Treaty Comes into Force
WASHINGTON, 22 JANUARY 2026 (PRISTINE SEAS) — On 17 January, the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement — known as the High Seas Treaty — came into force. The agreement provides a legal framework for nations to create and manage marine protected areas on the high […]
Posted inTop Stories
Illegal Shark Fishing Persists in Palau Despite 2009 Ban
By L.N. Reklai KOROR, Palau — Evidence of ongoing illegal shark fishing surfaced this week, reigniting concerns about poaching in Palau’s protected waters despite a 2009 law that established the country as a shark sanctuary. At around 9 a.m. Monday, a white foam cooler drifted ashore near Meyuns Causeway, drawing attention from passersby. Inside were […]
Posted inPacific News
South Korean vessel facing hefty fine over illegal fishing charges
MAJURO, 24 FEBRUARY 2020 (MARIANAS VARIETY) — A South Korean-flagged longline fishing vessel was charged Friday with five counts of fishing in Marshall Islands waters without a valid license. The vessel monitoring system or VMS, an onboard computer system that provides real-time positioning of a fishing vessel by satellite to island fisheries departments, provided the […]
Posted inTop Stories
Chinese man caught with a Napoleon Wrasse on social media
Several social media posts have circulated recently of a Chinese man by the name of Hang Tian in possession of a Napoleon Wrasse. People on the Facebook platform called Voices of Palau were outraged by this and believe that this man should be given a fine for this crime. Ref. 27 PNCA 1204 states that […]