Pacific seas

Hefty fines see decline in illegal tuna fishing

This comes after the latest surveillance operation by the FFA saw only two major breaches of compliance by vessels in the region.

Nine Pacific countries ran the ten day operation Rai Balang 2017 which concluded last Friday.

The team leader at the FFA's surveillance centre, Commander Gavin Baker, said the last 3-5 years had seen a steady decline in both the severity and number of offences being committed in the Pacific tuna fishery.

Clean Seas for a Cleaner Pacific to help save our lifeblood

From the fish we eat to the reefs that protect our shores, Pacific marine ecosystems are under threat of marine litter and pollution.

The "Cleaner Seas for a Cleaner Pacific" event jointly coordinated by the UN Environment Pacific Sub Regional Office and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), during the Pacific Regional Preparatory meeting for the UN Ocean Conference highlighted the alarming statistics - impacts of marine debris across the region.

 It also showcased actions undertaken by the Pacific region to address this issue.