BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Secretary and its members have adopted an Emerging Technology Engagement Policy to enhance efficiencies in Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) processes.

Allen Rahari, the Director for Fisheries Operations at FFA, shared this development while presenting the agency’s operations and collaborations with its members.

He stated that the policy provides a framework to structure and prioritize FFA’s engagement with emerging technology providers.

“Harnessing technology in MCS allows for the strengthening of MCS tools and systems,” Rahari said.

He added that this initiative seeks to address priority gaps in existing systems and technologies and will be informed by the priority needs of FFA members in the region.

“Some of the technology solutions used in MCS include electronic monitoring and electronic reporting tools, remote sensing technologies, maritime domain awareness intelligence tools, and satellite data technologies such as radio frequency, satellite departure radar, and satellite optical data,’’ said Rahari.

He noted that while the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) is not an emerging tool, it remains a traditional and effective monitoring system for the region.

“Fisheries information management systems, online vessel registration, and the electronic port state message system, which was launched last year, are some of the technologies currently being employed in the region to address Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and specific IUU risks, such as unreported fishing,” he said.

Rahari emphasized that work on emerging technology is ongoing.

Looking ahead, he stated that FFA’s MCS tools and programs are proving effective in combating IUU fishing in Pacific tuna fisheries, and the agency will continue to explore ways to strengthen these tools.

“This can be achieved through enhancing cooperation and partnerships, both within FFA membership and with key partners, while also advancing technological solutions in our MCS programs,” he said.

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