NZ Navy supports Cooks' illegal fishing fight

The Royal New Zealand Navy has recently assisted efforts by the Cook Islands Police Service Maritime Unit to combat illegal fishing in the western Pacific.

Four NZ Navy personnel joined the crew aboard the Te Kukupa II last month as it covered more than 30 million square kilometres of ocean as part of Operation Kurukura.

The operation is run by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and involves 17 member nations, with operational support from Australia, France, NZ and the United States.

Te Kukupa II undertook a number of compliance inspections of fishing vessels as part of wider efforts to crack down on illegal fishing activities in the region.

Overall, the operation recorded a total of 149 vessel sightings, 82 at-sea and dockside boardings and inspections, while the FFA also recorded more than 27,000 satellite detections.

The navy personnel who spent two weeks aboard the Te Kukupa II were Able Weapons Technician Kyle Dymock-Smith, Able Seamanship Combat Specialist (ASCS) Theo Fyfe, Able Electronics Technician Liam Gleeson and Able Seamanship Combat Specialist Reece Speechly.

Fyfe said the camaraderie on board the vessel remained high throughout the voyage.

"It's very close-knit, very family-oriented and very professional. They are very good at what they do, very efficient. On a big vessel you might not run into other people the whole voyage but in Te Kukupa I felt like I was one of the family."

Speechly, meanwhile, highlighted that it wasn't a trip for those not used to choppy seas.

"These patrol boats are smaller than our Inshore Patrol Vessels and you need to bring your sea legs - they move a lot more than our bigger ships."