Pacific Patrols

The Defence Force conducts patrols in cooperation with Pacific nations, National Maritime Coordination Centre, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency and other agencies as part of New Zealand’s efforts to detect and deter illegal fishing and sustain fisheries for future generations.

Recent missions by P-3K2 Orions included maritime surveillance flights to the Cook Islands, and Port Vila in Vanuatu, where they supported the 40 th Anniversary of Independence, Flight Lieutenant (FLTLT) Jack Barnett said.

While patrolling the Cook Islands, aircrew were able to stay overnight at a hotel that met all the guidelines outlined by the Ministry of Health.

“We’ve put in place procedures to mitigate the health risk to both our people and pacific partners. These mitigation measures determine how we get to and from the airport, what Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) we wear and what we do once we get to the hotel,” FLTLT Barnett said.

“We minimise exposure by reducing interactions with local staff where possible, following social distancing advice and enhancing the cleaning of aircraft and equipment. We’re following all the guidelines set out by the Directorate of Air Force Safety and Health.”

One of the most important reasons for keeping up the surveillance flights was because of the stress on the islands caused by the Covid pandemic, resulting in them being unable to do as much of the patrolling themselves, he said.

“New Zealand obviously tries to be a good Pacific partner, so it’s a good opportunity to step up and fly more in the Pacific and assist them in looking after their resources.”

Even if New Zealand has a second wave of Covid, that would not mean the flights would cease, he said.

“We can still achieve a significant amount of patrolling without landing in these countries. We never stopped patrolling during the first Covid lockdown, we just altered them to provide the same effect where possible. If we did need to land, it would just be to refuel and there would be minimal exposure to anyone on the ground.”

The first extended surveillance mission following the Covid lockdown was a three-day mission by a P-3K2 Orion aircraft over Solomon Islands’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), a task coordinated by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).

The targeted maritime surveillance patrol was requested by Solomon Islands Government in order to monitor the activities of tuna fleets in its EEZ, as part of FFA’s ongoing surveillance in the region to detect and deter illegal fishing activities.

The tasking included surveillance of the Western border as well as the East and South fishing areas.

FFA Director General Dr Manu Tupou Roosen said maritime patrols were a key way of enhancing their knowledge of what had been occurring at sea, as well as acting as an invaluable deterrent for illegal activities.

New Zealand High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Georgina Roberts said fisheries were a vital resource and valued asset of Pacific nations, “one that must be preserved and protected”.

“Surveillance operations like this are ways in which New Zealand can continue to support Pacific nations to preserve this taonga.”

Fisheries contribute about US$1 billion annually to the economies of Pacific countries and generate about 25,000 jobs. Fisheries revenue is particularly important at the moment due to the significant reduction in tourism revenue for many Pacific Island countries.

MPI Director of Compliance Gary Orr said patrols were now more important than ever.

“New Zealand contributes to international efforts to monitor the high seas, which are areas of the ocean that fall between countries, for illegal fishing.

“Restrictions in place to manage Covid-19 presented some challenges to that work, but having NZDF being able to undertake targeted and effective maritime surveillance is absolutely key to detecting any IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing.”