Camera used to check flaws

PAPUA New Guinea is testing out the use of cameras on longline fishing vessels aimed to monitor local observers, an official says.
Forum Fisheries Authorities (FFA) manager for observer programme Philip Lens said this was a trial to ensure safety of the observers.
Lens, a former National Fisheries Authority staff, was instrumental in the country’s observer programme before he left the country over the weekend to take up his post at the FFA office in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Lens said three local observers had disappeared while out at sea on foreign vessels between 2010 and 2015.
He highlighted that in the next three years, it would be mandatory for all longliners and purse seine vessels to have cameras on board.
“On history, we have three observers who have gone missing in 2010, 2014 and 2015,” Lens said.
“We have a history of observers missing, we have to start installing video cameras on fishing vessels.
“That’s the reason FFA has also been tasked to develop the observer emergency action plan so that we can trace and track what goes on the vessel.