Pacific Nations Detain Chinese, Indonesian Boats Over Illegal Fishing
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Sydney: Pacific island authorities seized four fishing vessels, including Chinese and Indonesian vessels, as part of a regional campaign on illegal fishing, officials said Friday.
Operation Island Chief 2026 lasted from August 3 to 14 and encompassed approximately 27.5 million square kilometres of Pacific oceans. Over 3,000 fishing boats were tracked, with 133 boarded and inspected.
Authorities in Kiribati, Palau, and Papua New Guinea arrested or impounded the four vessels for alleged illicit fishing or fishing licence violations. Another 16 vessels were recognised as being of interest and warrant additional study.
The mission included aerial surveillance, satellite monitoring, and sea patrols, with help from Australia, the United States, and other regional partners.
The Pacific region generates over half of the world's tuna, making fishing an important source of income for island nations. Officials warn illegal, unreported, and uncontrolled fishing endangers both tuna stocks and the region's economic interests.
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