the Western and Central Pacific

Vt18 million fine for Vanuatu for Illegal fishing

Director of Fisheries, Kalo Pakoa, has confirmed that the flagged vessel, a Chinese flagged long liner ESSEN 108 entered into Cook Islands’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), in December 2015.
 
The matter was not reported in time and it was mid-2016 when Vanuatu got a report from the Cook Islands, and kick-started negotiations for a settlement.
 
“We have managed to get the ship owner or the operator to commit to a fine to pay the Cook Islands,” Director Pakoa told Vanuatu Nightly News’ Kizzy Kalsakau.