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NZ Navy Patrols Cook Islands Waters for Illegal Fishing
9 Jun
Summary
- Four RNZN personnel supported Cook Islands police on fisheries patrols.
- Operation Tui Moana targets illegal fishing and organized crime in the Pacific.
- RNZAF reconnaissance aircraft searched for fishing regulation breaches.
Four Royal New Zealand Navy personnel recently joined the Cook Islands Police on maritime patrols aboard the vessel Te Kukupa II. This collaboration supported the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency's Operation Tui Moana, an annual effort involving combined patrols and surveillance to combat fisheries violations.
Following patrols in Fiji and Niue's Exclusive Economic Zones, a Royal New Zealand Air Force MC-12K King Air reconnaissance aircraft was deployed. The aircraft searched for vessels suspected of illegal fishing or transnational organized crime, providing aerial photographic evidence to authorities for follow-up.
Cook Islands Government officials participated as air riders, and NZDF analysts monitored the operation from Fiji. Air Commodore Andy Scott highlighted the shared responsibility for Pacific security, emphasizing the importance of maritime domain awareness and evidence collection to support authorities.
