HMAS Leeuwin Completes Fisheries Operation

Australian Navy Hydrographic ship, HMAS Leeuwin has completed a successful tri-nation fisheries operation in the Western Pacific.

Operation NASSE was coordinated from Noumea, New Caledonia, and was established to enforce the conservation measures legislated by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.

HMAS Leeuwin was undertaking broader duties as part of Operation RESOLUTE and was joined by civilian and military agencies across three nations.

New Zealand ship, HMNZS Otago, French ship, FNS La Glorieuse, an Australian Air AP-3C Orion, three civilian aircraft and the Australian Fisheries Management Agency all participated in the five-week operation.

The focus for this patrol was on two large high-seas pockets located between the Australian, New Zealand, French, Tongan and Fijian Exclusive Economic Zones. These two areas are among the most highly fished areas in the world.

Boarding Officer, Lieutenant Mitchell Kerr, said during the patrol, Leeuwin, in conjunction with Fisheries Management, conducted three successful interrogations and two boardings on international fishing vessels within the high seas pockets.

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission was formed in 2004 and aims to conserve highly migratory fish stock in the Western and Central Pacific Oceans.

Image: Australian Navy