Two destroyed, one held for study purposes
By AATAI JOHN
ONE of the three blue boats being ordered to be destroyed has been held for study purposes.
That’s according the Director of Fisheries Edward Honiwala.
Mr Honiwala said this was to allow the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) to do some work to enable satellite detection of such boats in future.
He was responding to questions from the public as to why only two of the three boats were destroyed.
Mr Honiwala said the one seen floating somewhere was reserved by FFA in an attempt to create satellite imaging and simulation to make it possible for satellites to detect and recognise similar boats when they are found anywhere in the Pacific in future.
“FFA’s existing surveillance system cannot detect wooden boats, so the organisation is working with the Australian Defence Force to examine the vessel, to find ways to ensure such boats can be detected by satellite imaging in our ocean.”
He said the surveillance team from FFA did not get back to them since they requested them to reserve one vessel for that purpose.
He added that this was the reason why one of the boats was not taken to Malaita for destruction.
The three Vietnamese blue boats were captured in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) early this year.
The boats’ crew were fined and left the country while the three skippers were convicted and are currently serving jail terms at Rove Correctional Centre.
