A Forum Fisheries Agency surveillance operation involving the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and the United States has ended with success in the region's activities to deter illegal fishing.
Operation Rai Balang was coordinated by the Forum Fisheries Agency Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre at the FFA regional headquarters in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Over the past 10 days, Pacific patrol boats, Coast Guard vessels and aircraft have surveyed approximately 3,000,000 square kilometers of ocean and found no sign of illegal fishing.
Approximately 100 people were involved in the surveillance effort and 205 fishing vessels were monitored during the operation, 43 were sighted and 6 boarded.
One vessel was found to be apparently operating without a valid licence and thus conducting illegal activity in Palau's EEZ.
The Forum Fisheries Agency says the information collected from the operation can be used to advise all countries participating in future operations the locations of where illegal activities are likely.