A combined operation by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) working in partnership with Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Australian Army, and with the support of Northern Territory Parks Rangers, has intercepted several Indonesian fishing vessels within the Garig Gunak Barlu National Park.
Operation Pristis comprised AFMA fisheries officers, ABF marine tactical officers and soldiers from the Australian Army’s North West Mobile Force (NORFORCE) to detect, deter and disrupt illegal foreign fishers in the Cobourg Peninsula.
A large charter vessel was utilised to support multiple smaller boarding vessels deployed deep into creeks and mangroves to remove foreign fishing vessels. A helicopter was used to provide aerial surveillance and identify fishing vessels concealed within the mangroves.
Approximately 1120kg of sea cucumber worth an estimated AUD $112,000 was seized from two fishing vessels, plus a large amount of fishing gear, 520kg of salt, canoes, reef shoes, dive masks, catch bags and other processing equipment.
In a separate incident, a further two Indonesian fishing vessels were located, intercepted and apprehended by Maritime Border Command (MBC). Both vessels were destroyed at sea by AFMA in accordance with Australian law. The crews were subsequently embarked on another vessel and directed back to Indonesia.
‘This joint operation demonstrates a strong commitment by multiple government agencies to detect and deter illegal foreign fishing. We are grateful to our partners for their support and commitment of resources to these operations,’ said Justin Bathurst, AFMA’s General Manager of Fisheries Operations.
