The Fisheries department in Fiji says a new agreement with the Maritime Safety Authority will lead to tougher controls on fishing vessels.
An agreement was signed between both parties last week to work together to stop illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activities in Fiji waters.
The Permanent Secretary of Fisheries, Inoke Wainiqolo, says the department hopes to improve the management of flagged fishing vessels.
"They can expect more officers from our vessels boarding them because at times there are some minor misunderstanding as to why our officers should be boarding theirs. We would expect more rigorous monitoring of all these works done by these two organisations."
Inoke Wainiqolo says the agreement will also lead to more training for fisheries and Maritime Safety Authority officers.
