MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Australia, France to jointly police territorial seas.

France and Australia plan to introduce joint policing of their waters in the Southern Ocean.

ABC reporter, Graeme Dobell, says under the plan, the French Navy would help to control fishing in Australia's sub-Antarctic area around Heard Island and the McDonald Islands.

The enforcement treaty will build on an agreement for joint surveillance, now being considered by the Australian Parliament.

France and Australia have agreed to joint surveillance of fishing vessels in their neighboring territorial seas in the Southern Ocean.

They will share information and intelligence from planes and ships as well as from remote sensors and satellites.

France and Australia will also support each other's ships when in pursuit of boats suspected of illegal fishing.

The Australian Parliament's Treaties Committee, looking at the agreement, has been told that beyond joint surveillance, Australia and France are preparing another treaty for joint policing.

Australian diplomat, Dr Greg French, says Australian vessels could conduct enforcement operations against illegal vessels within the French zone and French vessels within the Australian zone.