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.

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.

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 p.m., 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 realized they were moving with direction and intent. These were not objects in the sky. They were drones launched from fishing vessels offshore.

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 meter of our home, passing just inches from the Wi-Fi satellite dish that provides our only communication link with the outside world.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

- Hon. Amanda Masono, Minister of Fisheries, Member for the Atolls Constituency, Autonomous Bougainville Government

Read more: “Sea Shepherd Commences Historic Effort to Protect Bougainville and the Amazon of the Seas”