Seven fishermen pleaded guilty to fishing illegally in Australian waters at Darwin Local Court. They were intercepted following a report from a member of the public of a suspected foreign fishing vessel sighted near Escape River, Cape York.
Australian Border Force located and intercepted an Indonesian vessel concealed within the mangroves of a nearby creek system, seizing approximately 1950kg of sea cucumber and a variety of fishing gear. The vessel was apprehended and the crew detained and transported to Darwin for further investigation by AFMA.
The skipper, who had been previously been arrested in Australian waters, was sentenced to two months imprisonment, backdated to the day of apprehension. Another crew member, also detected in Australian waters on a previous occasion, was released on an $8000 undertaking to be of good behaviour for a period of four years.
Two crew with prior findings of guilt for similar offences were released on $5000 undertakings to be of good behaviour for a period of five years. The final three crew members were released on $3000 undertakings to be of good behaviour for three years.
All of the fishermen will be deported to Indonesia following completion of any relevant period of imprisonment.
153 Indonesian fishermen have been prosecuted in Darwin Local Court since 1st July 2025.
