Twenty Indonesian nationals pleaded guilty to illegally fishing in Australian waters in five separate cases at Darwin Local Court on 15 and 16 April 2025.
The matters arose from incidents occurring on 24 March 2025, 25 March 2025 and 1 April 2025 when Australian authorities identified, intercepted and apprehended five Indonesian fishing vessels in waters adjacent to the Northern Territory.
Authorities seized more than 250 kg of sea cucumber along with large quantities of salt used to process and preserve catch. A range of equipment was also seized including a GPS device, mobile phones, a trawling net and 50m longline.
The crews were detained and transported to Darwin for further investigation by AFMA. ABF seized the five vessels, with each being subsequently destroyed at sea in accordance with Australian law.
Following an investigation, members of the crews were charged with offences against the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth).
One of the vessel masters was fined $5,000. Another master, who had been subject to a previous finding of guilt for similar offending, was fined $4,000. The three remaining masters were fined $2,000 each.
Regarding the remaining crew:
One fisher was sentenced to an 18-day term of imprisonment, relating to an unpaid fine for similar offending in 2014. He was also fined $1,500 on the current matter.
One fisher was identified as having been released on a 2-year good behaviour undertaking for similar offences in January 2024. That undertaking remains in place and he was fined $1,000.
One fisher with a previous finding of guilt for similar offending in 2024 was fined $2,000.
Eight fishers were fined $2,000 each.
Four fishers were fined $1,000 each.
The court also imposed a series of victim levies in addition to the fines.
All fishers will be removed from Australia by ABF and returned to Indonesia at the earliest opportunity.
There have been 166 Indonesian fishers prosecuted in Darwin Local Court since 1 July 2024.
