7 Jul 2016

Australia offers Pacific fishing surveillance help

5:17 pm on 7 July 2016

Australia has offered an integrated aerial surveillance contract for the fishing zones of Pacific countries.

The offer is for 30 years and Canberra is ready to spend more than $US11 million dollars a year on the scheme to be managed by the Forum Fisheries Agency.

The FFA's director general, James Movick, says the scheme, due to start in July next year, is a very large commitment by Australia and supplements its renewed Pacific Patrol Boat Program under which it is donating upgraded vessels for each of the island countries.

Operation Tui Moana/Islands Chief for 2016

FFA surveillance operations Photo: supplied/FFA