The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) held a ground-breaking ceremony last week in Honiara to unveil the design and commencement of the construction of a new building complex for its Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre (RFSC).
The ceremony at the FFA Headquarters was attended by the Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Hon Jeremiah Manele, fisheries officials from the Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC), and partners involved in the agency’s surveillance work.
‘Our Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre is a symbol of unity,’ said FFA Director-General Dr Manu Tupou-Roosen.
‘We are so proud of what our [Members] have achieved—in setting up this Centre, in leading the world in tuna fisheries management and development. We are humbled to serve from the Secretariat. While we recognise these amazing achievements, we always remember that what lies at the centre of our work is our people. Always remembering why we do what we do, and why we work together: Our People, Our Fisheries, Our Future.’
The new RFSC facility with estimated costing of over US$7.1 million, is designed to enhance maritime surveillance, and regional cooperation among FFA’s 17 Members.
Equipped with advanced monitoring systems, the facility provides real-time Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), enabling swift and informed responses to maritime security threats and combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Pacific. These surveillance capabilities reflect the FFA’s role as a leader in sustainable fisheries management, committed to protecting and preserving the world’s largest tuna fishery.
With the ground-breaking ceremony completed, construction of the new RFSC is set to commence in 2025 and is expected to be completed over the next two years.
The RFSC serves as the coordination centre for all FFA surveillance operations, assisting Members in monitoring the vast Pacific Ocean, which spans approximately 30 million square miles.
The current design phase of the new RFSC is supported by Australia.
Official blessing and ground-breaking of the new RFSC. From left, Father August Fox, FFA Director-General Dr Manu Tupou-Roosen, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Hon Jeremiah Manele, and FFC Chair Erana Aliklik. Photo by FFA Media
