Caught and convicted: imprisonment for illegal fishers
This is a joint media release between the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) and Australian Border Force (ABF).
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.”
Illegal fishing activity in Australian waters can be reported to Australian authorities by contacting CRIMFISH on 1800 274 634 or intelligence@afma.gov.au.
For more information:
Media: media@afma.gov.au or 0437 869 860
www.afma.gov.au
