Joint media release Immigration and Border Protection and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority
A joint operation by Maritime Border Command (MBC) within the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has seen the retrieval of a significant abandoned fishing net, commonly referred to as a ghost net, from Australia’s northern waters.
The ghost net was sighted by an Australian Border Force Dash-8 surveillance aircraft on Monday, 24 October 2016, floating just south of the Timor Sea around 240 nautical miles north east of Darwin.
The Australian Border Force Cutter (ABFC) Thaiyak was deployed to locate the net in the water. On Tuesday 25 October 2016, ABFC Thaiyak, in coordination with surveillance aircraft, located the net and commenced the arduous task of removing it from the water.
ABF officers on board ABFC Thaiyak were able to manually retrieve approximately two tonnes of net by hand. This retrieval operation took over 24 hours to complete. The net was received in Darwin by AFMA officers on Friday 28 October, where it was inspected and deemed unsalvageable, and was subsequently incinerated at an AFMA facility.
ABF officers retrieving ghost net from Australian waters north of Darwin
So far in 2016, six ghost nets, weighing an estimated 25.6 tonnes combined, have been located in the Torres Strait and Arafura Sea. All of these nets have been successfully retrieved and disposed of by officers of the ABF, the Australian Defence Force and AFMA.
AFMA’s General Manager of Operations, Peter Venslovas, said although the net was retrieved from the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone it is likely to have drifted in from foreign fishers.
“Due to the type of net retrieved and the Australian Commonwealth fisheries this net was most likely abandoned by foreign fishers,” Mr Venslovas said.
“Furthermore, the industry-led practices in place by Commonwealth operators mean that there is minimal loss of fishing gear.
“Given the damage ghost nets cause to marine life is significant, AFMA will continue to work closely with other government agencies to retrieve ghost nets found within the Australian waters.”
Commander MBC, Rear Admiral Peter Laver said that this latest retrieval is an example of the wide range of activity that MBC undertakes in protecting Australia’s maritime environment.
“Maritime Border Command monitors Australia’s vast maritime domain 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and we are on the look-out for any and all threats to Australia’s maritime environment. These ghost nets are lost or recklessly left at sea by fishing vessels and can cause significant harm to Australia’s unique maritime wildlife and resources.”
“These nets are often large, very heavy and the retrieval operations are complicated, not without risk. This retrieval took over 24 hours and again shows the dedication and commitment of AFMA and ABF officers at sea and in the air, protecting Australia’s maritime domain every single day.”
Once retrieved, if possible, abandoned nets are recycled and provided to galleries and indigenous art centres for use in ghost net art to highlight the impact they have on the marine environment.
Media contact: Immigration and Border Protection (02) 6264 2244
Australian Fisheries Management Authority: media@afma.gov.au or 0437 869 860