Ten Indonesian nationals have pleaded guilty to illegally fishing in Australian waters in separate cases at Darwin Local Court.
The first case arose from an incident on 3rd April, when Australian authorities identified, intercepted and apprehended an Indonesian vessel fishing illegally near Parry Harbour in Western Australia, seizing 420kg of sea cucumber, 300kg of salt, and fishing equipment included a line with hooks and a trawling device.
The crew were detained and transported to Darwin for further investigation by AFMA. ABF seized the vessel, and it was destroyed at sea in accordance with Australian law. The skipper of the vessel was sentenced to a 27-day term of imprisonment, backdated to the time of apprehension. The remaining crew members were released on $1000 undertakings to be of good behaviour for a period of two years.
A second case arose from an incident on 10th April, and the interception of an Indonesian vessel fishing illegally near Port Essington in Northern Territory. Authorities seized 300 kg of sea cucumber, 90 kg of salt and a variety of fishing gear. ABF seized the vessel, and it was destroyed at sea in accordance with Australian law.
The skipper of this vessel was sentenced to a 21-day term of imprisonment, backdated to the time of apprehension, and released on a $1000 undertaking to be of good behaviour for a period of two years. Two crew members were released on $1000 undertakings to be of good behaviour for a period of two years. The remaining two crew members were released on $500 undertakings to be of good behaviour for a period of two years.
All of the fishermen will be deported to Indonesia. 176 Indonesian fishermen have been prosecuted in Darwin Local Court since 1st July 2024.
