“Our aircraft enable us to protect the sovereignty of our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone),” General Barrera told our colleagues form Les Nouvelles calédoniennes in their 30 November edition. “The French Navy’s guards are permanently patrolling over our EEZ and are able to spot any offender who is carrying out illegal action. Thanks to their sustained action, I can guarantee that the EEZs of New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna are “clean” “.
Warnings to illegal fishermen
In France, one of the synonyms of the army is: “The Great Mute”. It is not used to communicating and does not seek to exist in the media. This makes the words of the commander of the New Caledonian armed forces all the more interesting. Moreover, this message is not really addressed to the Caledonians. It is addressed more to those who are candidates for illegal fishing in French waters. Every year, hundreds of Chinese or Vietnamese boats, to mention only these two countries, sail not far from the French borders. For the moment, these boats are plundering the seabed of various small countries that do not have the means to control their zone.
France has ordered planes
If France does not make the means available, it is clear that illegal fishing will increase. Real bins from the Vietnamese seas do not hesitate to travel 8000 kilometres to come and fish holothurians in the Caledonian EEZ.
The army does not limit itself to fishermen, it also monitors pirates, polluters and drug traffickers.
General Barrera’s statement comes after recent statements by French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly announcing the order for 12 Falcon 2000 LXS Albatros maritime surveillance aircraft, five of which will be deployed in New Caledonia and Tahiti.
