Samoa and France cooperate against illegal fishing

Apia, SAMOA – 10 June 2026 – A few weeks ago, Mr. Vaa Reupena, officer from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of Samoa, boarded a French aircraft at Faleolo Airport to participate in the Tui Moana maritime surveillance fisheries control operation of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).

The annual surveillance operation was conducted from 4 to 22 May 2026 and involved the participation of 10 Pacific Islands Countries, including Samoa.

Many actions were carried out in the region by the Pacific Quad partners, Australia, New Zealand, France and the United States, as support of the FFA. As such the French Forces in the Pacific, both Navy and Air Force, based in Noumea and in Papeete, brought their support to the international cooperation against illegal fishing and the preservation of fisheries resources in the Pacific.

Samoan Officer Reupena had the chance to board a Falcon 200 Gardian of the French Navy deployed to Apia. He flew as an observer during a maritime surveillance mission over Samoa’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

In the meantime, two Fijian officers embarked on French Navy Ship Bougainville – well known in Apia – for five days to carry out a series of missions aimed at fighting against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).

As a development partner of Samoa and a Pacific nation, France is addressing growing threats in the region, such as illegal fishing, drug trafficking and the fight against maritime pollution.

Also, the French territory of Wallis and Futuna and Samoa share a maritime border with Samoa.