Maritime

Frontex teams up with EFCA to support Cyprus in fisheries control

Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, teamed up with European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) to support Cyprus in tracking down illegal fishing close to the island.

The first airborne mission provided to Cyprus by EFCA in cooperation with Frontex took place in August and September in the southern part of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Cyprus.

In the course of the operation, a Frontex surveillance aircraft performed nearly 80 flying hours and detected a number of vessels of interest. Frontex also validated vessels not transmitting position in the area of interest.

EFCA was in the lead of the coordination of the operation with Cyprus authorities and the European Monitoring Team (EMT) of Frontex.

The collaboration between EFCA and Frontex is part of EU cooperation on coast guard functions. Frontex, EFCA and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) signed a Tripartite Working Arrangement in 2017 to together assist relevant authorities involved in coast guard functions in Member States.