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ABOUT NFA
CONTROL SURVEILLANCE
This group comprises three separate units.
The Enforcement Unit is
responsible for surveillance and enforcement programs to ensure
that holders of fishing and harvesting licences, both domestic and
foreign, understand and comply with the terms and conditions of
their licenses.
The Audit and Certification Unit
is responsible for ensuring that seafood processors understand and
comply with export quality standards. It is important to ensure
that PNG seafood export products comply with the food safety laws
and regulations of importing countries, and thereby maintains its
access to international markets, particularly Europe.
The Observer Unit is responsible
for placing trained observers on board licensed vessels to provide
scientific information for monitoring the impact of fishing on fisheries
management plans. Observers also assist with monitoring compliance
with license terms and conditions, particularly with regard to transhipment.
A complementary shore-based port sampling program provides additional
scientific information for fisheries managers. Attached is a brief
of the Law & the Observer Program:
2004
Law & the Observer Program 
(276
KB)
- Deterring illegal fishing through education, surveillance,
enforcement and prosecution.
- Cooperating with agencies to provide effective patrols of fisheries
waters and Torres Strait Protected Zone.
- Controlling, regulating and auditing the storing, processing
and export of fish and fish products in accordance with legislative
requirements and international best practice.
- Supporting and administering effective seafood, health and
safety programs and activities for fish processors and exporters.
- Managing an observer programme for collecting resource data
and monitoring compliance with licence conditions.
- Liasing with inter-government, regional and international agencies,
stakeholders and industry to share ideas, information and resources.
- Making recommendations and advising on policy on surveillance,
compliance, and quality standards, including bilateral and multilateral
agreements in these areas.
 having
regular, constructive contact and sharing surveillance information
through sub-regional MOUs, Agreements with neighbouring countries
of Australia, Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, FSM, Palau and
Indonesia to better manage mutual boundaries and reduce illegal
fishing activity- ensuring that all licence holders, agents, owners and skippers
are fully briefed and understand fisheries legislation, regulations,
agreed access requirements licence conditions, VMS requirements
and the vessel days scheme (VDS)
- having a coordinated VMS intelligence and surveillance programme
that identifies any fishing in restricted waters within 24 hours
and prompts immediate enforcement action
- identifying vessels not carrying or using VMS through an annual
program of targeted aircraft, patrol boat and observer surveillance
in tuna fisheries, Torres Strait Protected Zone and the Dogleg
- monitoring compliance with licence conditions through routine
cross checking of VMS data, reported sightings, log books and
observer reports
- monitoring compliance of VDS quotas through routine cross checking
of VMS data supplied by FFA, reported sightings, log books and
observer reports
- Cooperating with Government Agencies (internal and external)
and Defence forces to provide effective patrols of fisheries waters
and the Torres Strait Protected Zones
- obtaining accurate and timely information on fisheries resources
by deploying observers to routinely cover set percentage of seadays
for all fishing vessels, including targeted vessels under compliance
scrutiny and trial fishing activities
- ensuring that PNG seafood companies comply with quality standards
and maintain access to international markets through a regular
audit programme
- establish links and harmonise programmes with local, bilateral
and international authorities regarding food safety issues and
create avenues for marketing of fish products
- carrying out audit and inspection of all vessels and processing
operations applying for licences to ensure compliance with quality
and safety standards
- providing education and awareness through workshops, seminars,
brochures, leaflets, newspaper, radio and other media means explaining
compliance requirements and the effect of non-compliance
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