Fisheries Protection Group
The Fisheries Protection Group was established by the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the 20th November 2017 to combat unlicensed fishing within the Nova English Exclusive Economic Zone. Headquartered in Port Neil, the Fisheries Protection Group is equipped with four converted fishing trawlers and eight Buladocga Aircraft.
Roles
Following the agreement made on the establishment of the Fisheries Protection Group between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Fisheries Protection Group was given the role to inspect all fishing vessels in Nova English Waters. FPG patrol ships will inspect documentation on fishing vessels and confirm valid licenses with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In cases where incorrect, false or non-existent licenses occur, the FPG will arrest the crew of the suspect vessel and depending upon the severity of the offence either impound the vessel or scuttle it at sea. The two flights of Buladocga aircraft maintain aerial surveillance of Nova English waters, informing patrol vessels of the locations of ships and in some cases undertaking combative operations to halt illegal fishing.
Equipment
The Fisheries protection group are trained by a joint training team composed of National Police Force and Light Infantry Instructors. Currently the Fisheries Protection Group has a manpower of approximately 498 men and women mostly stationed at the organisation’s headquarters in Port Neil.
The four converted trawlers operated by the FPG are manned by a crew of forty Fisheries Protection Group officers and include a ship boarding security team. Each vessel is also armed with a 12pdr gun and two general purpose machine guns.
Fisheries Protection Officers are equipped with the following;