Three of eleven Indonesian fishermen apprehended by Australian forces off Northern Territory last month get to spend time in prison before being deported.
The vessel was intercepted near Croker Island in December, with 3200kg of sea cucumber on board, as well as fishing gear, a dredge and a quantity of salt. The vessel was destroyed following the interception and the crew taken to Darwin where the skipper was found to be subject to an outstanding warrant arising from previous similar offending in 2017.
He was sentenced to one week of imprisonment for that matter along with a three-month term of imprisonment for the current charges. These sentences will be served concurrently, with an immediate custodial term of six weeks while the remainder is suspended.
Two other crew members were identified as being released on previous good behaviour undertakings for similar offending, and have each been given concurrent one- and two-month terms to served – one month to be served immediately while the remainder is suspended.
The remaining eight crew members were released on $500 undertakings to be of good behaviour for a period of two years, and are to be deported to Indonesia.
In the month that the Australian Border Force’s Operation Lunar has been active, twelve illegal foreign fishing vessels have been apprehended in waters off the Northern Territory, more than six tonnes of sea cucumber have been seized, as well as 500kg of other catch, and over two tonnes of salt.
110 Indonesian fishermen have been prosecuted at the Darwin Local Court since 1st July 2024.
