Bougainville Fisheries Minister Amanda Masono says illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing remains a major threat to the Autonomous Region of Bougainville’s remote atolls, but patrol support from Sea Shepherd Global has helped stop suspicious offshore activities, including alleged drone operations linked to foreign fishing vessels.
Masono, the Member for the Atolls Constituency in the Autonomous Bougainville Government, said the region’s vast maritime zone and limited enforcement capacity have left island communities vulnerable to illegal fishing activities.
“I come from the remote waters of the Bougainville Atolls. While our isolation has preserved our way of life for generations, it has also left us vulnerable.
“Our waters are a prime target for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The vastness of our maritime zone, combined with limited patrol capacity, presents a major enforcement challenge for a small island region such as ours. When industrial vessels operate near the edges of our waters, the consequences are felt directly by our communities, whose food security and livelihoods depend on healthy marine ecosystems,” Masono said.
She said suspicious activity had been regularly observed in the area before Sea Shepherd Global began supporting Bougainville’s efforts to combat IUU fishing under the leadership of President Ishmael Toroama.
“Before Sea Shepherd Global began supporting Bougainville in combating IUU fishing in our Atolls, under the leadership of President Toroama, we frequently observed suspicious activity offshore. From Carteret (Tulun) Island to Fead Island (Nuguria), the horizon would often glow at night with the lights of foreign fishing vessels operating just beyond our communities.”
Masono recounted an incident she witnessed in March 2025 while carrying out customary obligations ahead of the Autonomous Bougainville Government General Election.
“In March 2025, while carrying out customary obligations in preparation for the Autonomous Bougainville Government General Election, I witnessed something that deeply concerned me. One evening, at approximately 6:00 pm, while swimming near Langain Island, I noticed lights moving from the ocean toward the island.
“At first, I assumed they were satellites. But as I continued watching, I realised they were moving with direction and intent. These were not objects in the sky. They were drones launched from fishing vessels offshore.”
She said a second incident occurred during the same visit when a drone flew close to a residence on the island.
“On another night during the same visit, at around midnight, a drone flew extremely close to our house. Village boys chased it when it came within a metre of our home, passing just inches from the Wi-Fi satellite dish that provides our only communication link with the outside world.”
Masono said the incidents raised concerns about both fisheries enforcement and security.
“The presence of drones over our islands was alarming. It suggested that fishing vessels were conducting reconnaissance before entering our waters. This reflects a level of coordination and technological capability that small island communities cannot afford to ignore. It raises serious concerns not only about fisheries violations, but also about maritime security and sovereignty.”
She said the situation changed after Sea Shepherd Global began conducting patrols in Bougainville waters.
“Since Sea Shepherd Global began providing patrolling support in Bougainville waters, these activities have stopped. The horizon lights we once saw regularly have disappeared. The drone incursions have ceased. Their presence has had a clear deterrent effect.”
Masono said she had observed only one suspicious light since the patrol operations began.
“Only once, during the 2025 festive season following the election, did I observe a single distant light again beyond Carteret Island. Otherwise, the change has been unmistakable.”
She said the experience highlighted the need for continued monitoring and enforcement partnerships to prevent illegal activities from returning.
“This experience demonstrates the importance of sustained monitoring and enforcement partnerships. Bougainville’s waters are vast, and our capacity remains limited. Continued cooperation is essential to ensure that illegal activities do not return once attention shifts elsewhere.”
Masono said protecting the ocean remains critical for communities across the atolls.
“For the people of the Atolls, the ocean is not an abstract issue. It is our livelihood, our identity, and our future. We must continue strengthening partnerships that protect our waters and uphold the integrity of our maritime borders,” she said.
