Australia enhances support for all Asean nations against illegal fishing

CANBERRA (Bernama) -- Australia is strengthening technical cooperation and surveillance support with Malaysia and other South-East Asian countries to counter illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing networks that threaten maritime security, food resources and coastal livelihoods across the region.

Senior Manager at the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) David Power, said the efforts include advanced vessel-monitoring systems, satellite-based maritime domain awareness, enforcement training and cooperative information-sharing programmes under the Regional Plan of Action to Combat IUU Fishing (RPOA-IUU).

"We have had strong programmes with Malaysia on strengthening vessel-monitoring systems, which are fundamental to real-time tracking and oversight of fishing activity.

"This capability helps authorities identify suspicious movement, target enforcement and build a clear picture of activities at sea,” he said during a briefing to participants of the Southeast Asia Maritime Media Visits Programme (SEAMMVP) here on Thursday.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)-funded SEAMMVP initiative brings together 12 journalists from four ASEAN countries, namely Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, to deepen understanding of maritime security issues and foster a collaborative regional media network through exchanges with Australian officials, researchers and media experts.

Power said Australia’s support also centres on capacity-building, including training Malaysian and ASEAN fisheries officers in risk-based compliance, port-state inspection principles and regional monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) operations.

He noted that Australian funding through the Southeast Asia IUU Fishing Programme has enabled joint courses for enforcement agencies across ASEAN, including Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, enhancing coordinated responses to maritime threats.

Australia is also working with regional partners and the Quad Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative to improve detection of "dark vessels” - boats operating without transmitting location signals.

"We are expanding satellite-based tools that detect radio frequencies and optical signatures from vessels attempting to hide their activities.

This strengthens early warning, enables coordinated responses and supports countries in acting against illegal fishing,” he added.

Power said the AFMA-led programme also builds a network of enforcement officers across ASEAN, enabling real-time information-sharing and operational coordination.

He said officers from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines attend multi-week MCS training blocks, combining classroom modules with at-sea exercises and port-inspection drills.

"One of the biggest strengths of this programme is the professional network it builds among enforcement officers across Southeast Asia.

"Cooperation among peers accelerates intelligence-sharing and enforcement action,” he said.

Power said Australia is also promoting inclusive participation in fisheries governance, including greater roles for women in maritime enforcement and recognition of Indigenous knowledge in ecosystem-based management.

"Sustainable fisheries management requires all voices at the table, and we are supporting pathways for women officers and traditional coastal communities to participate in policy decisions,” he said.

He noted that while threats from large commercial IUU fishing vessels have declined due to stronger enforcement frameworks, the region now faces increasing pressure from small-scale vessels driven offshore by depleted stocks and climate impacts.

Malaysia, he added, will be well-positioned to advance regional enforcement cooperation, particularly in promoting data-sharing, fisheries surveillance, and coordinated port-state inspections.

"Regional cooperation remains essential because illegal fishing is a shared challenge. By working together, countries can protect marine resources, ensure food security and uphold maritime rules in line with UNCLOS (the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” he said.

Through RPOA-IUU and ASEAN working groups, Australia continues to support technical exchanges, officer training, satellite-based monitoring and regional collaboration to strengthen maritime law enforcement. -- Bernama