Nine Indonesian nationals have entered guilty pleas at Darwin Local Court to illegally fishing in Australian waters.
In August the Australian authorities located, intercepted and apprehended an Indonesian vessel fishing illegally in Trepang Bay in the Cobourg Marine Park, Northern Territory. The crew were targeting sea cucumber (trepang), commonly sold in Asian markets.
A group of Indonesian fishers was initially identified on a small tender vessel. Following contact being made, these fishers led Australian authorities to another vessel hidden in the mangroves. Several of the crew then attempted to flee into the mangroves before ultimately being detained.
170kg of trepang, 170kg of salt (used for preserving catch) and a large quantity of fishing equipment were seized from the vessel. The crew were taken to Darwin for further investigation. Both the main vessel and tender vessel were subsequently destroyed at sea in accordance with Australian law.
All nine fishers were charged with offences. The skipper of the vessel was released on a $12,000 undertaking to be of good behaviour for a period of five years, with a 120-day period of imprisonment imposed in the event of default. The remaining eight crew were released on $8,000 undertakings to be of good behaviour for a period of four years, with 80-day periods of imprisonment imposed in the event of default.
The fishing crews are being deported by Australian Border Force to Indonesia.
‘These court outcomes reinforce that illegal fishing will not be tolerated,’ said AFMA’s General Manager, Fisheries Operations Justin Bathurst.
‘AFMA and our partner agencies are focused on detecting and apprehending illegal fishers. Those caught fishing illegally in Australian waters risk prosecution as well as seizure and destruction of their vessel.’
