Three missions in October saw a Royal New Zealand Air Force surveillance aircraft track vessels operating without transmitting their locations, identify possible marine pollution...
Three missions in October saw a Royal New Zealand Air Force surveillance aircraft track vessels operating without transmitting their locations, identify possible marine pollution and monitor a submarine volcano near New Zealand.
By Webfit News | 11 November 2026
Far out in the Pacific Ocean, hundreds of kilometres from the nearest coastline, a fishing vessel can be difficult to monitor, particularly when it is not transmitting its location.
That is one of the challenges facing authorities responsible for protecting the vast waters surrounding New Zealand and its Pacific neighbours.
Throughout October, a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-8A Poseidon aircraft carried out three surveillance deployments across the South-West Pacific, helping authorities monitor maritime activity, identify potential breaches of fishing regulations and assess security risks.
The missions also included an unusual assignment: observing an active underwater volcano on the Kermadec Ridge.
The surveillance flights supported the Forum Fisheries Agency's Operation Kurukuru, a regional effort to monitor fishing activity and compliance with international regulations.
The aircraft covered international waters and the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu and the Cook Islands.
An EEZ is a maritime area where a coastal nation has special rights over natural resources, including fisheries.
During the patrols, crews photographed vessels that appeared to be operating outside regulatory requirements, including boats that were not transmitting their locations.
One vessel photographed inside Tonga's EEZ was not transmitting its position and had a discrepancy involving its fishing licence.
Another fishing vessel, identified as a purse seiner, was also photographed without transmitting its location.
Purse seiners use large nets to surround schools of fish, making them an important part of commercial fishing operations in the Pacific.
Authorities sometimes refer to vessels that deliberately conceal their identity, location or ownership as dark vessels.
However, a missing location signal alone does not establish that a vessel is engaged in illegal activity.
The aircraft's observations were documented for assessment by the Forum Fisheries Agency and relevant authorities.
Crews also photographed and reported one case of potential marine pollution involving a commercial fishing vessel.
The deployments were not limited to fishing activity.
The P-8A also supported New Zealand Customs Service's Operation Kiwa, which brings together Customs, the New Zealand Defence Force and the Government Communications Security Bureau to help deter serious and organised transnational crime.
October is an important period for maritime monitoring because warmer weather and improving sailing conditions bring more yachts and small vessels through the Pacific towards New Zealand.
Customs' Assistant Comptroller Maritime Operations, Paul Campbell, said surveillance around Minerva Reef and the Kermadec Islands helped authorities identify activity requiring closer attention.
"By monitoring pleasure craft near Minerva Reef and the Kermadec Islands, the P-8A gives us greater visibility across New Zealand's wider maritime environment and helps identify activity requiring closer attention," Campbell said.
The aircraft also monitored vessels in the Cook Islands' EEZ.
Information gathered during these missions helps Customs and other agencies assess risks and decide where further investigation or enforcement resources may be required.
The surveillance flights were not reported as having resulted in arrests or confirmed criminal findings.
One of the more unusual assignments took the aircraft over the Monowai submarine volcano on the Kermadec Ridge.
Monowai is an active underwater volcano located in the Pacific Ocean northeast of New Zealand, with its summit approximately 100 metres below sea level.
The aircraft crew was tasked with observing the volcano as part of the wider surveillance programme.
The release did not report a new eruption, tsunami threat or other immediate danger associated with the observation.
The mission also included collecting imagery of buildings and infrastructure on Raoul Island for the Department of Conservation.
Raoul Island is part of the remote Kermadec Islands, where access is difficult and aerial imagery can provide useful information about infrastructure and conditions.
These assignments demonstrate how a military surveillance aircraft can support scientific observation and civilian government agencies alongside its defence responsibilities.
The P-8A Poseidon is a long-range maritime patrol aircraft designed to operate across enormous stretches of ocean.
Its surveillance capabilities allow crews to locate and monitor vessels, collect imagery and provide information to authorities responsible for maritime security.
For New Zealand, these capabilities are particularly valuable because of the country's extensive maritime responsibilities and its relationships with Pacific island nations.
Acting Air Component Commander Group Captain Brett Clayton said the aircraft's ability to cover vast distances made it a valuable resource.
"The P-8A Poseidon's ability to cover vast distances and gather critical information makes it an indispensable asset for maritime domain awareness," Clayton said.
He said the aircraft also supported government agencies and Pacific nations in deterring organised crime and protecting natural resources.
The Pacific Ocean supports commercial fishing, international shipping, tourism and the livelihoods of communities across numerous island nations.
Monitoring these waters is challenging because vessels can operate far from ports, coastlines and regular enforcement patrols.
Illegal fishing, marine pollution and organised crime can have serious consequences for countries that depend heavily on ocean resources.
Aircraft such as the P-8A help close some of those surveillance gaps by providing information that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.
October's missions demonstrated the range of activities taking place across the region, from commercial fishing operations and recreational vessels to remote island infrastructure and volcanic monitoring.
They also showed the importance of cooperation between New Zealand, regional governments and international fisheries authorities.
For most people, these activities happen far beyond public view.
But the information gathered over the Pacific can help protect fisheries, support maritime security and provide a clearer picture of what is happening in one of the world's largest ocean regions.
Main image: A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. Photo: New Zealand Defence Force, file image.
Image 2: A vessel photographed inside Tonga's Exclusive Economic Zone was not transmitting its location and had a fishing licence discrepancy. Photo: NZDF.
Image 3: A purse seiner photographed during an October surveillance patrol was not transmitting its location. Photo: NZDF.
The NZDF has altered the vessel photographs to conceal their identities.
Based on information and photographs supplied by the New Zealand Defence Force concerning RNZAF P-8A Poseidon deployments during October 2026.
Source: New Zealand Defence Force.
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