Five (5) Indonesian nationals pleaded guilty to fishing illegally in Australian waters at Darwin Local Court on Wednesday 31 July 2024.
On Thursday 18 July 2024, Australian authorities located, intercepted and apprehended an Indonesian vessel fishing illegally inside the Australian Territorial Sea near Deliverance Island, within the Torres Strait Protected Zone, approximately 200 kilometres north of Thursday Island.
Australian authorities seized the vessel along with 20 kilograms of various finfish and eight Jewfish swim bladders, which are highly sought after within Asian markets. A substantial quantity of fishing equipment, including 60 metres of gill net was also located and seized. The crew was detained and transported to Darwin and the vessel destroyed in accordance with Australian law.
The fishers were charged with offences against the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984. Four of the accused crew were released on $8000 sureties to be of good behaviour for a period of two (2) years. A fifth crewmember with a prior history of similar offending received an $8,000 fine.
AFMA, in partnership with Maritime Border Command, a multi-agency task force including Australian Border Force and Australian Defence Force, continues to target illegal foreign fishing in Australian waters to protect our precious marine resources.
Australian authorities are also using other measures to combat illegal fishing at its source, including the delivery of public information campaigns within Indonesian fishing communities, the distribution of educational material, targeted social media campaigns, and proactive engagement with fishers.
Quotes attributable to AFMA's General Manager, Fisheries Operations, Mr Justin Bathurst:
"Australia's healthy fisheries resources are an attractive target for illegal fishing operators.
"Unregulated use of gill nets poses a significant risk to threatened, endangered and protected species within the Torres Strait, including dugongs, dolphins, turtles and sawfish.
"AFMA and our partner agencies remain focused on locating and apprehending illegal fishers. Those caught fishing illegally in Australian waters risk prosecution and as well as seizure and destruction of their vessel."
Quotes attributable to Commander Maritime Border Command, Rear Admiral Brett Sonter:
"Across the region, foreign fishing fleets are moving from their usual fishing grounds to explore and exploit new ones.
"These apprehensions highlight the critical work undertaken by the ABF, AFMA and MBC to protect the Australian maritime border and safeguard our marine wildlife and natural resources.
"Our message to unauthorised foreign fishers is simple: We will intercept you, you will lose your catch, your equipment and possibly even your vessel."
