Navy supports Cooks' illegal fishing fight

The Royal New Zealand Navy has backed Cook Islands efforts to curb illegal fishing in the western Pacific. In the latest phase of Operation Kurukura, four NZ Navy personnel joined the crew of the Te Kukupa II last month, supporting patrol coverage over more than 30 million square kilometres of ocean. The operation is run by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and involves 17 member nations, with operational support from Australia, France, New Zealand and the United States. Te Kukupa II conducted compliance inspections of fishing vessels, logging 149 vessel sightings, including 82 boardings and inspections from sea and at dock. The FFA also recorded more than 27,000 satellite detections.