The Forum Fisheries Agency has welcomed a move by Australia to provide Pacific countries with bigger, faster patrol boats.
Two decades ago Australia gifted 20 patrol boats to Pacific countries which continue to be the front line of regional security, monitoring and surveillance of the Pacific tuna fishery and the first response in times of natural disasters.
The deputy director general of the FFA, Wez Norris, says the Pacific patrol boat roll out will begin next year and will continue until the entire Pacific patrol boat fleet is replaced.
It is part of the Pacific Maritime Security Program which will see $US1.5 billion spent in the region over the next three decades.
Mr Norris told Koroi Hawkins the initiative alongside Australia's additional commitment to provide the FFA with around the clock aerial support for regional surveillance will greatly strengthen security in the region.
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Photo: Vanuatu Embassy