11 Jul 2017

Call for better protection of Pacific fishing observers

From , 5:04 am on 11 July 2017

There is a renewed call for better protection for fishing observers in the Pacific after a Papua New Guinean man went missing while monitoring a vessel in Nauru waters.

James Junior Numbaru was serving as an observer on the purse seiner Feng Xiang No. 818 when he was reported missing two weeks ago.

His body has still not been recovered, and Nauru police ruled out foul play after a 24 hour investigation.

President of the Association for Professional Observers Liz Mitchell says observers are often put in vulnerable situations, and they are often harassed and abused while carrying out their work.

She told Tim Glasgow that James Junior Numbaru is the latest in a number of observers who have mysteriously disappeared.

Fishing boat in Greymouth

Photo: 123RF