Tagata Pasifika

The Pacific voice on
New Zealand television
since 1987

Tagata Pasifika

The Pacific voice on
New Zealand television
since 1987

Niue to conduct drone trials for water surveillance

By Moana Makapelu Lee

This month the island of Niue will begin drone trials to test how new technologies can serve for monitoring control and surveillance of their exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In 2016 the island’s Government declared 40% of its EEZ a marine protected area covering 127,000km.

Niue’s Director General for the Ministry of Natural Resources, Dr Josie Tamate, says the idea was promoted by Premier Toke Talagi following discussions around illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in Niue’s waters.

“We took our cue from Premier and looked at potential Drone operators or those with new technology that they would like to test-drive in Niue.”

“The announcement to commit 40% of Niue’s EEZ at the Our Ocean Conference in Malta, October 2017 provided the platform for discussion with potential suppliers.”

The Government initiative is facilitated and supported by Niue Ocean Wide (NOW) Project, a public-private partnership group formed by Niue’s Government and Niue conservation NGO Tofia Niue.

NOW Project Manager Brendon Pasisi says the capabilities for drone technology in Niue are far reaching.

“The key is being able to get ‘eyes’ out on the water and coastal areas, with technology that will not only identify potential breaches of rules, but also collect valuable information and data that will inform resource managers and compliance agencies.”

“It will hopefully address the constraints locally of limited compliance manpower and capacity, by being able to cover large and remote areas efficiently and effectively.”

Situated roughly 635km southeast of Samoa and 560km northeast of Tonga, the island of Niue is prone to tropical cyclones. With no beach, its raised coral rim often poses a threat to sailors.

In July and August two yachts on two separate occasions had to be rescued off Niue’s coast after both vessels with couples on board hit objects in the water, causing them to sink.

“Search and rescue has and will continue to be a priority for Niue,” says Pasisi.

“This technology will add to and enhance the recent efforts of Niue, supported by the NZ Maritime Safety Programme, by being able to quickly surveil large areas of the coastal areas, and potentially beyond, as well as quickly put precision cameras in remote and difficult locations such as that experienced with recent yacht groundings at the back of the island.”

A number of neighbouring Pacific Island countries have also been invited to participate in the trials, with the expectation they may be applicable to other islands with similar geographic characteristics as Niue.

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