The Samoa Police, Prisons and Corrections Services (SPPCS) held a traditional Ava Ceremony on Saturday to officially welcome participating Pacific nations for Operation Ika Moana, hosted in Samoa from the 11 – 18 August 2025
Samoa will host over 250 crew from 6 Pacific nations and 8 observer countries.
Patrol boats from Fiji, Cook Islands, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Samoa will participate on Operation Ika Moana, aimed at patrolling Pacific waters from illegal fishing, and illegal organised crimes such as drug and human trafficking.
The Ava Ceremony, held at the Tafaigata Academy, was a fitting cultural prelude to what will be a week-long joint operation.
It was well attended by senior officials, Commissioner of Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority and Chief Executive Officer of Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries showcasing unity to ensure overall safety of Pacific waters.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Commissioner Lafaitele Herbert Aati expressed Samoa’s pride in hosting this regional initiative.
“Operation Ika Moana aims to enhance maritime surveillance, information sharing, and coordinated response across Pacific Island nations in efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and other transnational maritime crimes.”
“As host nation, Samoa plays a central role in the logistical and operational coordination of the exercise, showcasing its commitment to regional security partnerships.”
The Ava Ceremony was concluded with dinner hosted by SPPCS.
Samoa extends a warm TALOFA AND WELCOME to all the participating and observer nations of Ika Moana.
Welcome to our home and island paradise
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