A recent joint operation between the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and AFMA resulted in the successful apprehension and forfeiture of a number of illegal foreign fishing vessels in the Torres Strait Protected Zone.
While most of the illegal vessels were disposed of, AFMA set aside two for restoration that were later gifted to the Papua New Guinea National Fisheries Authority and Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary in Daru, PNG. The vessels were also equipped with safety kits, life jackets and emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRB) where the operator can trigger a satellite locater if the vessel is in trouble. This equipment was generously donated by Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
In 2009 AFMA gifted two boats to the National Fisheries Authority and PNG Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to assist with local operations. These boats have proven to be significant resources to PNG authorities responsible for marine law enforcement in the Torres Strait.
The new boats, in addition to being used in local day to day operations by the PNG National Fisheries Authority and Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, have also been used to assist Australian authorities with treaty awareness visits to coastal PNG villages. More recently they were used during Operation Pincer to transfer PNG National Fisheries Authority officers participating in the operation to and from Australian patrol boats and conducting at sea transfer of custody of apprehended PNG fishers. The operation targeted vessels illegally fishing for Beche De Mer on Warrior Reef in the Torres Strait.
AFMA gratefully acknowledges the support of other agencies and groups involved in the preparation and gifting of the boats including:
- Royal Australian Navy
- Australian Maritime Safety Authority
- Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
- PNG Customs Service
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Thursday Island) and PNG Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Daru)
- Sea Swift (Cairns and Thursday Island)