French Navy joined operation against illegal fishing

**One of the fishing vessel beeing controlled_cmyknew – Picture supplied**

FRENCH Navy ship La Glorieuse made a port call in Port Moresby earlier this month before participating in an operation against illegal fishing in Papua New Guinea’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The French embassy in PNG said the crew of the French Navy ship La Glorieuse met with French Ambassador Guillaume Lemoine, the European Union Ambassador Jacques Fradin, the Deputy Chief of PNG Defence Commodore Philip Polewara and the acting chief executive officer of PNG Ports Rodney Begley.
After its port call, La Glorieuse took part in the operation “Rai Balang” dedicated to the fight against illegal fishing in the region, under the umbrella of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and for the benefit of the National Fisheries Authority (NFA).
The vessel took on three PNG officers which included two from PNGDF and one from NFA.

**The crew of La Glorieuse with French ambassador Guillaume Lemoine during a port call in Port Moresby earlier this month. – Picture supplied**

During its crossing to Rabaul, La Glorieuse had the opportunity to corral some fishing vessels and reported them to NFA and FFA.
After arriving in Rabaul the vessel made her last port call of the long journey, before heading back to Noumea where she is based.
French Ambassador Lemoine also made the trip to Rabaul to welcome the Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Jelta Wong on board
The aim of the meeting was to brief Wong on the outcomes of the “Rai Balang” operation.
And to explain the guidelines of the project of rehabilitation of the port of Rabaul, that might involve France (with its French Development Agency), Australia (with the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific), the European Union (with European Investment Bank) and the PNG authorities as well as PNG Ports Corporation Ltd.