Pacific region loses billions in stolen fish

The Pacific region loses about $7 billion worth of fish to theft every two years.

This was revealed by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency Director General, James Movick while opening a regional Information Management Facility workshop.

Movick says the training will provide information management tools, including a new mobile-phone application to assist authorities keep track of their fisheries stock.

“We’ve seen various statements coming out about the level of IUU fishing and the nature of illegal fishing in the region. This is standard to skew the attention of our MCS, monitoring, controlling and surveillance activities towards being able to detect purely illegal boats.”

Fisheries Officer Leba Draunivesi says with the FFA’s help, they’ll be able to integrate the work of each unit in the fisheries department and help in information sharing.


SOURCE: FBC NEWS