THE United States Coast Guard has sent a ship to the Solomon Islands ahead of a maritime security agreement between the two countries.
Heated political debate has started in Honiara as Prime Minister Matthew Wale prepares to sign an agreement allowing Solomon law enforcement officers to travel aboard US Coast Guard vessels.
This will allow the US Coast Guard to interdict vessels within the Solomons exclusive economic zone.
Opposition Leader Manasseh Sogavare warned that the agreement would compromise national sovereignty, according to InDepth Solomons.
After consultations in Washington DC early this month, Wale agreed to sign the Agreement Concerning Counter Illicit Transnational Maritime Activity.
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane arrived in Honiara as part of Pacific patrol one day before the planned signing. Wale has defended the agreement as a necessary step to combat illegal fishing ad drug activities in Solomons’ territorial waters.
Meanwhile, Tuvalu has reported that its police officers intercepted a Chinese long line fishing vessel operating illegally in national waters.
Tuvalu police boarded the Lu Rong Yan 138 after receiving help from the Allankay, a vessel operated by the conservation group Sea Shepherd.
Chinese vessels have been cited for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Pacific but Pacific nations often do not have the capacity to intercept or board these ships.
