Joint media release: Australian Border Force and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority
Those who seek to fish illegally in Australian waters will think twice after today’s conviction of 16 illegal foreign fishermen.
The Vietnamese master was convicted on two charges related to illegal fishing and received a suspended sentence of two months for each count with a 24 month good behavior bond. The 15 crew were each convicted of one charge and also received a suspended sentence of two months with an 18 month period of good behaviour. Their fishing vessel was also confiscated and destroyed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) in Cairns, preventing it from being used to further plunder Australia’s marine resources.
AFMA conducted the investigation and prosecution of the illegal fishers with assistance from Parks Australia and Maritime Border Command (MBC) within the Australian Border Force (ABF). The crew and master all pleaded guilty to breaking Australian fisheries laws.
MBC and AFMA apprehended the illegal fishermen on 3 September 2016 about 450 kilometres to the north-east of Cairns and 245 kilometres inside the Australian Fishing Zone. The vessel was initially spotted by an MBC surveillance aircraft within the Territorial Sea of Willis Islet in the Coral Sea.
During the inspection officers found various fishing equipment including diving gear, fishing nets, floats and baited fishing line. Officers also found 26 barrels full of fresh and salted bêche-de-mer (sea cucumber).
AFMA’s General Manager of Operations, Peter Venslovas, said Australia had strict fisheries rules and regulations in place to ensure healthy fisheries.
“Illegal fishing undermines Commonwealth fisheries management and the very systems that Australia has in place to ensure current and future generations can continue to enjoy a healthy supply of Australian seafood,” Mr Venslovas said.
“Those who are caught illegally fishing will be convicted and have their boats confiscated.”
Commander MBC, Rear Admiral Peter Laver, said these convictions show that Australia takes the issue of illegal foreign fishing very seriously and that those looking to illegally fish in Australia’s waters should be on notice.
“MBC’s vessels and aircraft, along with the intelligence shared by our partnering agencies and international partners, provide us with a strong picture of everything that is occurring in our waters,” Rear Admiral Laver said.
“We monitor Australia’s waters 24/7 and respond immediately to any sign of illegal activity.”
While last year saw an increase of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Australian waters, with the apprehension of 20 vessels, numbers have plummeted from the hundreds of vessels apprehended each year a decade ago due to Australia’s excellent deterrence work.
As well as direct enforcement action Australia continues to work with our regional partners, including Vietnam, to educate and prevent illegal fishing.
More information on how Australia is working to combat illegal fishing can be found at afma.gov.au.