Tuna Wars: Pacific crackdown targets illegal fishing with support from Australia

The Pacific tuna fishery is the largest in the world, but its abundance is threatened by illegal fishing. Image Credit: Pexels/Abdulaziz Hasan

A cross-Pacific operation supported by Australia, is using satellites, surveillance aircraft and patrol vessels to identify suspicious operators and protct the world's largest tuna fishery.

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Key Points

• The Pacific tuna fishery supplies more than half of the world’s tuna catch. For some Pacific island countries, revenue from tuna is a major source of funding for schools, hospitals and other essential public services.
• Illegal fishing costs the region hundreds of millions.
• Operation Tui Moana brought together Pacific fisheries, maritime and law-enforcement agencies, with support from Australia and other international partners.