HMNZS Hawea boards about 250 vessels, detects 45 infringements during Fiji patrols

Illegal fishing in our Exclusive Economic Zone, dumping of rubbish in our waters, overloaded vessels and not following proper safety procedures have always been major concerns.

However the policing of our waters has always been a challenge.

The Royal New Zealand Navy Inshore Patrol Vessel HMNZS Hawea which has been assisting the Fijian government in maritime surveillance in our waters has confirmed that they have boarded about 250 vessels and detected 45 infringements since arriving in Fiji in late April.

The Commanding Officer of Hawea, Lieutenant Dave Luhrs says the infringements included vessels fishing without licences, illegal use of underwater breathing apparatus for fishing, dumping of rubbish at sea and safety infringements such as not holding master’s licences, not having lifejackets and overloading of vessels.

Hawea is conducting its sixth patrol with staff from the Republic of Fiji Navy and Fiji’s Ministry of Fisheries and Forests and Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority.

Fishery Officers from New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries are also taking part.

About 20 Republic of Fiji Navy personnel have received training on the ship.

The NZ Defence Force sent Hawea to Fiji in late April for six months to help patrol its territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone.

Hawea’s deployment to Fiji marks the first time that a Royal New Zealand Navy Inshore Patrol Vessel has been deployed to the South Pacific, and fulfils the New Zealand Government’s offer to help Fiji with maritime surveillance.

In a separate New Zealand Defence Force fisheries patrol in the South Pacific, Offshore Patrol Vessel HMNZS Otago inspected 12 vessels, including a transhipment vessel for the first time, during an 18‑day patrol north and north‑east of New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

HMNZS Otago was sent to patrol the high seas to the north and north‑east of New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone to support the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Lieutenant Commander Lorna Gray, the Commanding Officer of Otago, said some of the vessels inspected were caught either misreporting or not reporting their catch.

Maritime Component Commander Commodore Jim Gilmour said the NZDF provided aircraft and ships routinely for monitoring, control and surveillance activities.

He says they are committed to supporting fisheries management by South Pacific Island countries and take matters of non‑compliance seriously.