FSM fisheries law enforcement officers attend FFA run in-country dockside boarding and prosecution training workshop

POHNPEI, FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA, 23- 27 MAY 2011: The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) as part of its ongoing training to its 15 member countries and Territory this week, conducted a FSM In-country Dockside Boarding and Prosecution training workshop at the western and central pacific fisheries commission headquarters, Pohnpei, in order to better address illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in FSM waters and high seas.

A total of 27 maritime enforcement officers from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and National Oceanic Resource Management Authority (NORMA) attended the Workshop. The workshop was officially open by the FSM Chief of National Police, Chief Takasy Reim. Chief Reim emphasized that; outcome of the training on officers will greatly improve officer’s performances, on the understanding of relevant national fisheries legislations, investigative procedures, evidence collection and presentations to court. Chief Reim thanked the FFA Secretariat and GEF Oceanic Fisheries Management programme, for their tireless contributions to support enhancement of skills and capacities of officers in FSM to be more efficient and effective through such trainings.

The officers undergo a five-day intensive training in:

• Legislations and interpretation;
• International law particularly; Law of the sea convention, fish stock agreement, FAO Port state agreement.
• Regional Arrangements; particularly; WCPFC Convention, Wellington convention for drip net, US Treaty, Niue Treaty, MCS Strategy, MTC, Conservation and management measures,
• Sub-regional arrangements particularly; PNA, FSM Arrangement, and the Palau Arrangement,
• Fisheries legislations, court procedures and evidence collections,
• MCS tools such as Vessel monitoring system, and Regional Fisheries surveillance centre compliance analysis through Google picture; and
• Mock trial.

The training was delivered by monitoring control and surveillance and legal experts from the FFA Secretariat, FSM Attorney Generals and Tuna Commission.