27 foreign fishermen detained after IUU fishing bust in Gulf waters

Twenty-seven foreign fishermen are now in police custody following a major crackdown on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated [IUU] fishing in Gulf Province waters.

The arrests followed the interception of three foreign fishing vessels by the Fisheries Patrol Vessel Ilakini, during coordinated sea patrols led by the National Fisheries Authority.

The Ilakini is one of three state-owned surveillance vessels commissioned in December 2025, alongside FPV Vanimo and FPV Daru, as part of Papua New Guinea’s expanded maritime surveillance capability.

In a statement, NFA Managing Director Justin Ilakini confirmed that each vessel carried nine crew members, bringing the total number of detained fishermen to 27. All are alleged to have been involved in illegal fishing activities within PNG waters.

Mr Ilakini said the operation highlights the effectiveness of recent fisheries surveillance reforms, including increased at-sea patrols, stronger national monitoring systems, the deployment of state-owned patrol vessels supported by drone technology, and tighter compliance enforcement under updated fisheries management frameworks.

He added that these measures form part of broader reforms aimed at combating IUU fishing, protecting marine resources, and ensuring the sustainable use of Papua New Guinea’s fisheries stocks.

By safeguarding PNG’s Exclusive Economic Zone and deterring illegal operators, the NFA is supporting government policy to maximise direct revenue from the fisheries sector and ensure that only compliant operators benefit from access to the country’s waters.

Meanwhile, two of the intercepted vessels were safely escorted to Port Moresby, where they remain anchored awaiting court proceedings. A third vessel, however, sank during transit after taking on water.