Nineteen Indonesian nationals have
pleaded guilty to illegally
fishing within Australian waters in two separate cases at Darwin Local
Court on 29 October and 13 November 2024.
The first case arose from an incident
on 11 October 2024, when Australian authorities located, intercepted and
apprehended an Indonesian vessel, fishing illegally in the Cobourg Marine Park
near Port Essington, Northern Territory. The
vessel was targeting highly prized sea cucumber, commonly sold in Asian
markets. Authorities seized a quantity of fishing equipment, and the vessel was
subsequently destroyed in accordance with Australian biosecurity law. Thirteen
crew on-board were detained and transported to Darwin for further
investigation.
All thirteen fishers were charged
with offences against the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth). The master of the
vessel was released on a $400 undertaking to be of good behaviour for a period
of two years. The remaining crew
were released on $200 undertakings to be of good behaviour for a period of 12
months.
The second case arose from an
incident on 17 October 2024, when Australian authorities located, intercepted
and apprehended another Indonesian vessel, fishing illegally in the Kimberley
Marine Park near Cape Talbot, Western Australia. This vessel was also targeting
sea cucumber. Authorities seized 200 kilograms of salt (used for preserving
catch) along with a sizeable quantity of fishing equipment. The six crew
on-board were transported to Darwin for further investigation and the vessel
destroyed in accordance with Australian biosecurity law.
All six fishers were charged with
offences against the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth). The master of
the vessel was released on a $5,000 undertaking to be of good behaviour for a
period of three years. Two of the crew had prior findings of guilt for similar
offending and in one of these cases, the fisher was sentenced to three months
imprisonment suspended for a period of two years along with a $3,000 security
undertaking. The second repeat offender was sentenced to a six-month term of
imprisonment with 14 days to be served immediately and the remainder suspended
for a period of two years along with a $5,000 security undertaking. The
remaining three crew were released on $3,000 undertakings to be of good
behaviour for a period of three years.
All 19 fishers will be removed from Australia by ABF and returned
to Indonesia.
The Australian Fisheries
Management Authority (AFMA), in partnership with Maritime Border Command (MBC),
a multi-agency task force including Australian Border Force and Australian
Defence Force, continues to target illegal foreign fishing in Australian waters
to protect our precious marine resources.
Australian authorities continue to
utilise other measures to address illegal fishing at its source, including the
delivery of public information campaigns within Indonesian fishing communities,
the distribution of educational material, targeted social media campaigns, and
proactive engagement with fishers.
Quotes attributable to AFMA’s
General Manager, Fisheries Operations, Mr Justin Bathurst:
“AFMA and our partner agencies remain
absolutely committed to the task of detecting illegal fishers. Those caught
fishing illegally in Australian waters risk prosecution and imprisonment as
well as seizure and destruction of their vessel.”
“These court outcomes reinforce
that illegal fishing in Australian waters will not be tolerated.”
Quotes attributable to Commander
Maritime Border Command, Rear Admiral Brett Sonter:
“The efforts of MBC, with the
support of AFMA, to detect, intercept and apprehend illegal fishers, enables surveillance, patrol and response
capabilities to combat illegal activity and threats to Australia’s border.
“Our message to illegal foreign
fishers is simple: Australia does not tolerate illegal activity in our waters.
We will intercept you, you will lose your catch, your equipment and possibly
even your vessel.”
