Australian Border Force (ABF) intercepted two foreign fishing vessels with 15 crew as part of operations targeting illegal fishing continue across Australia’s north and northwest.
Maritime Border Command working with the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, detected and apprehended the Indonesian vessels found allegedly fishing illegally in the vicinity of Deliverance Island – also known as Warul Kawa Indigenous Protected Area – west of the Torres Strait.
The crews have been safely conveyed to Darwin and placed in fisheries detention while these matters are investigated, and prosecution considered.
The large fishing vessels were equipped with a substantial quantity of fishing gear. The equipment and vessels were seized and will be lawfully disposed of by AFMA.
‘If you fish illegally, you will lose your vessel, your equipment and you will be placed in immigration detention to face potential prosecution in Australian courts,’ said Commander MBC, Rear Admiral Brett Sonter.
‘Maritime Border Command is deploying multiple assets and utilising whatever powers available to deter, detect and take enforcement action in response to illegal foreign fishing in Australian waters. This process ensures a multi-layered approach to monitoring Australian waters using air, sea, littoral, and land assets combined with detection and enforcement effects.’
