Efforts to combat IUU fishing have been significantly strengthened with the inauguration of a new, Fisheries Monitoring Centre at Suva in Fiji. This initiative is part of a larger regional strategy to enhance Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) capabilities across the Pacific region.
‘This new monitoring centre arrives at a pivotal moment for Fiji’s fisheries sector. Recent data indicates that IUU fishing costs our nation approximately FJD50m (USD21.8 million) annually in lost revenue,’ said Fiji’s Minister for Fisheries, Alitia Bainivalu.
The facility, equipped with advanced surveillance technology, will significantly enhance the ability to protect its valuable marine resources worth millions to the economy.
The inauguration featured the handover of FJD0.4million (USD174,315) worth of advanced monitoring equipment provided by the European Union and Sweden funded Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) Programme, which is implemented by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA)FFA.
‘With this enhanced technology and the support from the European Union through the FFA, we are taking a significant step towards protecting our blue economy and ensuring compliance with our recently strengthened fisheries legislation,’ Alitia Bainivalu said.
The establishment of the Fisheries Monitoring Centre also aligns with Fiji’s recent Maritime Surveillance Enhancement Act passed in January 2025, which increased penalties for IUU fishing violations and expanded the mandate of monitoring authorities.
According to a 2023 report by the Fiji Ministry of Fisheries, IUU fishing incidents in Fijian waters increased by 18% between 2022 and 2023, with unauthorised foreign vessels accounting for approximately 65% of these violations. The new monitoring centre supports Fiji’s 2024 National Plan of Action on IUU Fishing, which aims to reduce illegal fishing activities by 40% by 2027.
‘The European Union is honoured to be able to support the Fiji government in rolling out its priorities in relation to fisheries monitoring control and surveillance,’ said Nereo Peñalver-Garcia, deputy head of Delegation of the European Union to the Pacific.
‘The PEUMP programme, with the important work of FFA, not only focuses on enhancing monitoring capabilities but also working to improve market access for Pacific fisheries products that meet international standards for sustainability and traceability. This integrated approach supports both environmental protection and economic development across the region.’
FFA director-general Noan Pakop welcomed the development and acknowledged the importance of such infrastructure in building long-term capacity. He said the support reflects what FFA is advancing at the regional level through our Country Partnership Agreements and the FFA Regional MCS Strategy 2024–2029.
‘Building capacity across our membership is not only about training or technical skills, it is also about providing the right infrastructure. Fiji’s new centre is a strong example of that. It contributes to a collective regional effort to combat IUU fishing across over 30 million square kilometres of ocean,’ he said.
‘Through systems like the Vessel Monitoring System, observer data, and national surveillance capability, we are strengthening the surveillance and enforcement capabilities of our Members. This centre gives Fiji the tools to do that more effectively, and we will continue working with other Members to scale up these efforts across the region.’
