The Solomon Islands and Australia have completed participation in Operation Island Chief, a Pacific-led fisheries surveillance activity aimed at strengthening regional security.
Operation Island Chief is one of four annual Pacific led maritime surveillance operations coordinated by the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and supported by the ADF. A Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan and supporting personnel were deployed to Solomon Islands to contribute surveillance and information-sharing capabilities with oversight of their sovereign maritime resources.
Maritime surveillance support was conducted across more than 320,000 square kilometres of Solomon Islands’ exclusive economic zone.
Contingent Commander and C-27J Spartan captain, Flight Lieutenant Katherine Mitchell, said the crew worked closely with FFA members to identify potential threats to Solomon Islands’ maritime security.
“ADF surveillance patrols identified 19 vessels of interest in Solomon Islands’ exclusive economic zone and reported suspicious activity at sea to the FFA and participating authorities for assessment and follow-up action,” Flight Lieutenant Mitchell said.
Commander Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, AO, CSC, said the deployment of ADF assets reinforced Australia’s commitment to supporting Pacific priorities through practical cooperation.
“Our strength in the Pacific comes from partnership. By combining our capabilities and sharing information, we are supporting Pacific nations in responding to shared challenges and building a more secure region,” Vice Admiral Jones said.
“Illegal fishing undermines sovereignty, economic security and regional stability. Operation Solania demonstrates Australia’s commitment of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our Pacific partners to deter threats to protect what matters most. “Australia’s security starts with a secure region. Through this operation, we are backing Pacific-led action, building interoperability with our partners, and helping ensure the Pacific remains safe, stable and resilient.”
The operation, coordinated by the FFA in Solomon Islands, was established to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and transnational crime. Solomon Islands worked together with their partners in the Pacific including Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Naoero with support from Australia, France, New Zealand, and the United States.
“The deployment of 25 secondees to the Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre in Honiara played a vital role in bringing Pacific partners together during Operation Island Chief,” Acting Defence Advisor Brett Verity said.
“This operation strengthened Pacific regional coordination, expertise and supports our shared commitment to protecting the region’s fisheries resources. We are proud of the dedication shown by all participants, whose contributions have helped strengthen regional partnerships and advance our shared objectives.”
The operation resulted in 10,884 detections, boarding and inspection of 133 vessels, 45 vessel contacts with high risk assessments and identification of vessels of interest (VOIs) across the Pacific. This was one of the highest numbers of VOIs recorded in recent FFA coordinated regional surveillance operations, with 4 vessels apprehended.
Source: Australian High Commission, Solomon Islands
