Fisheries Officers embarked on Inshore Patrol Vessel HMNZS Taupo for Operation Kauwae, monitoring a wide stretch of ocean from Cape Reinga to the East Cape.
The crew identified 27 vessels of interest during the operation, carrying out inspections on commercial trawlers, purse seiners, longliners and bottom longliners. Compliance was high, with just four minor infringements picked up and now being followed up for further action.
HMNZS Taupo Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Toby Mara, says the operation is a good example of the long-running partnership between the Navy and Fisheries New Zealand in protecting the country’s fisheries resource.
“This type of important monitoring operation is one we conduct on a regular basis, and each deployment builds on the interoperability skills of our young sailors,” Lieutenant Commander Mara said.
“We were up to 70km off the coast so having Fishery Officers embarked meant for an entire week they could wake up on station, immediately ready to begin work.
“Being that far out allowed them access to commercial fishing vessels operating further offshore, significantly extending the effectiveness of their monitoring activities.”
Fisheries New Zealand Regional Manager North, Andre Espinoza, says the agency greatly values the ongoing support from the Navy.
“Our fisheries are an important natural resource that must be carefully managed to ensure they remain sustainable for future generations.
“Fishery compliance is the key way we do this. HMNZS Taupo provided an excellent platform for us to achieve these inspections, which occurred in areas not typically accessible within a single day of patrolling. Working with the Navy enables us to provide persistent compliance coverage of an area over a number of days.”
Operation Kauwae follows a similar pattern to Navy work with Police, Customs, the Department of Conservation, MetService and the Ministry for Primary Industries, where its ships and crews back up specialist agencies out on the water.
HMNZS Taupo, built for maritime surveillance and patrol in New Zealand waters, carried two Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boats (RHIBs), which the crew used to ferry Fishery Officers out to the fishing vessels for inspection.
