Five Fijian officials from the Ministry of Fisheries, Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, Immigration Department and Fiji Navy have been onboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Munro in the last few days to observe, board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Fijian waters.
The Commanding Officer of the US Coast Guard Cutter Munro, Captain Blake Novak says they departed their home port in Alameda in California in late March to participate in operation Blue Pacific which is focused on supporting their Pacific Island partner nations and territories to bolster maritime safety and security in the region.
He says one of the ways they do this is through integrated efforts to counter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing which takes away jobs and negatively impacts the economy of island nations.
Captain Novak adds over the past few days, they enacted the bilateral ship-rider agreement between the United States and Fiji.
He says this agreement allows them to embark Fijian enforcement representatives to observe, protect, board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Fijian waters.
Captain Novak says in addition, the ship-rider program provides them the opportunity to share best practices on how to conduct enforcement activities safely when operating in high risk environments.
He adds the Munro supported officials from the Ministry of Fisheries, Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, Immigration Department and Fiji Navy in conducting multiple boardings to enforce Fijian laws and regulations in Fijian waters.
The US Coast Guard Cutter Munro was commissioned in 2017 and is the sixth Legend-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard.
Munro is named after Douglas A. Munro who is the only Coast Guardsman to be awarded the Medal of Honour.
