An Indonesian fishing vessel and its eight crew have been intercepted by the Australian Border Force (ABF) and Australian Defence Force (ADF) and escorted to Darwin.
A boarding party from HMAS Armidale found an estimated 250kg of trepang (sea cucumber), 15 shark fins, fish, and fishing equipment on board. The vessel, catch and fishing equipment were seized and were brought into Darwin, along with the crew.
‘We will continue to undertake aerial surveillance and maritime patrols to detect and intercept illegal fishing operators to protect Australia’s borders and our precious natural resources,’ said Rear Admiral Justin Jones, commenting that this arrests should send a strong message to foreign vessels seeking to exploit Australia’s maritime domain.
‘Our message is clear: those looking to exploit Australia’s sovereign waters will be detected, caught and will face the consequences.’
Upon arrival in Darwin, the crew members were detained by ABF, and AFMA is investigating the matter further for suspected offences under the Fisheries Management Act 1991.
‘The offenders face the prospect of significant fines and the loss of their vessel which has a detrimental impact on their livelihoods,’ said AFMA’s CEO Wez Norris.
‘Additionally, we are continuing to work closely with Indonesia to address the issue at its source through the delivery of education workshops in key Indonesian ports which outline the risks and consequences of illegal fishing.’
