NZ Navy vessel finds 50 infringements patroling Fijian waters

Transcript

DAVE LUHRS: We have completed 284 boardings within the Fijian EEZ and they range from small fishing vessels to offshore fishing vessels and customs such as yachts or motor vessels. We have come across around about 50 infringements. Infringements have ranged from anything as minor as not having life jackets not carrying a boat masters certification to vessel overloading. So some are safety infringements. Others have been infringements for licensing such as fishing vessels either inshore not having permits or licenses. Illegal use of underwater breathing apparatus such as scuba gear for fishing which is illegal in Fiji. And also other things such as infringements around the illegal discharge of oil or diesel overboard. The illegal dumping of rubbish and also infringements that are customs related such as overstaying yachts and charter vessels.

TIM GLASCOW: So have the majority of these vessels been Fijian registered boats or have you found there have been boats from different countries as well?

DL: The majority of customs vessels by their nature are overseas capable yachts. The infringements there are relatively minor because the majority of yachties have undertaken the right process. There have been a few offshore vessels which are international. But we see within the Fijian EEZ there is a total of 60 licenses are permitted for offshore longlining within the EEZ. So a number of them are Fijian and there is a number that are Fijian or other international. And for the inshore fishing the majority are obviously Fijian.

TG: You have also been training 20 Fijian naval personnel tell me what kind of training you did with them?

DL: So each time we sail for one of our seven day patrols we usually have about 10 Fijians onboard, four of which are customs and fisheries and six of which are the Fijian Navy so the types of trainings I have been doing is they have been working to integrate in all areas of the ship. So there is a lot around seamanship so things such as launch and recovery of boats assisting with sailing the ship. Weighing anchor and entering harbour. Also getting involved in the boardings themselves. So there is a lot of general duties which are undertaken onboard an IPV which are completed by everyone onboard. And then there are more trade specific activities as well. So the engineers are buddied up with one of our engineers and they are learning the type of systems and processes that we undertake on board. I think it is really important because each of our different navy's have different strengths. We are learning a lot about reef navigation and how to operate in this type of environment. Similarly we are maybe more skilled in other areas such as some of our specific seamanship and navigation tasks and so yep we are basically building on each other's strengths.