Look out for Vietnamese blue boats

SURVEILLANCE Operations Officer Commander Gavin Baker of the Forum Fisheries Agency has called on all Solomon Islanders to watch out for Vietnamese blue boats.

“This is because they will reap all the beche-de-mers in the reef and when they are there they are not only to catch a few but will take everything and nothing will remain in the reefs and beche-de-mer will never grow there again.

“So everybody has to keep their eyes open as it is also a threat to the whole economy, Mr Baker said.

Mr Baker explained that Forum Fisheries Agency has been supporting regional members in attempting to combat issues in relation to the so called Vietnamese blue boats for couple of years now.

The vessel started manifesting themselves about two years ago in Palau and gradually spread deeper into the FFA area Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, apprehended by France in New Caledonia and by Australia in the Coral Sea.

“This is the first time to have apprehended in the Solomon Islands EEZ,” Mr Baker said.

He also said that the blue boats also not reflect well on the radar because it is built of woods and also not very big.