Australia Arrests 9 Indonesian Fishers & Destroys Their Vessel For Illegal Catch Worth $30,000 AUD

Fishing vessel — Image for representation purposes only

Nine Indonesian fishermen have pleaded guilty to fishing illegally in Australian waters. Australian authorities intercepted the convictions and held them at Darwin Local Court.

On September 19, 2024, an Indonesian vessel was tracked down and stopped near Augustus Island, Western Australia, for illegally targeting sea cucumbers, which are highly priced in Asian markets.

During the operation, authorities seized about 350 kilograms of sea cucumbers, valued at around $30,000 AUD (over 300 million Indonesian Rupiah), 175 kilograms of salt used for preservation, and extensive fishing gear.

The crew was taken to Darwin for further investigation, and the illegal vessel was destroyed at sea as per Australian law.

Each of the nine fishers was charged under the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth). The master of the vessel was sentenced to three weeks in prison. Two other crew members with previous offences were also sentenced to three weeks in prison.

The rest of the crew was released after agreeing to good behaviour for a year. After the court’s judgement, the Australian Border Force (ABF) will deport all nine fishers back to Indonesia.

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) and Maritime Border Command (MBC), a cooperation between the ABF and the Australian Defence Force, are committed to preventing illegal foreign fishing in Australian waters to safeguard marine resources.

Justin Bathurst, AFMA’s General Manager of Fisheries Operations, highlighted the authority’s commitment to detecting illegal fishing activities.

He warned that anybody caught would face serious consequences, including prosecution, imprisonment, and the loss of their vessels. Authorities are implementing measures to combat illegal fishing at its source.

This includes conducting public awareness campaigns in Indonesian fishing communities, distributing educational materials, and engaging with fishermen through targeted social media initiatives.

Rear Admiral Brett Sonter, Commander of Maritime Border Command, reiterated MBC and AFMA’s intent to combat illegal fishing, stating that recent convictions reflect the efficiency of their efforts.

He also warned illegal fishers that Australia would not tolerate such behaviour, promising they would be intercepted, lose their catch and equipment, and face legal consequences.

Reference: AFMA

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