Media release
Last Friday was definitely a black one for Mr Elias Missa, master of the foreign fishing vessel, Nurlaelah. Mr Missa was convicted on Friday, 13 November 2015 for illegally fishing in Australian waters around Ashmore Island. The vessel has been destroyed and Mr Missa fined $2 000.
On 21 October 2015, the Nurlaelah entered the Ashmore Reef Commonwealth Marine Reserve under cover of darkness. Once in the vicinity of the reef the crew began illegally fishing, taking 60 kilograms of tropical snapper in about two hours. When the vessel was detected by Australian Border Force (ABF) Officers on the Cutter Cape Jervis, a boarding party halted the boat and conducted an initial search. This search revealed that the vessel was equipped to take commercial quantities of high value reef fish with drop lines and baited handlines.
Senior Manager, Compliance Operations, Mr John Davis, said that Friday’s conviction was a warning to those seeking to do the wrong thing and plunder Australian marine resources.
“If you do the wrong thing, you will be caught and face the harsh penalties for illegal fishing,” Mr Davis said.
“As a result of blatantly exploiting our marine environment, Mr Missa has not only faced financial penalty but lost his vessel in the process.
“To help protect valuable fish stocks from exploitation AFMA works together with other Commonwealth Agencies to ensure that breaches of Australia’s Fisheries Management Act 1991, are detected and those in breach, prosecuted.”
The deterrent nature of destroying vessels and court fines, coupled with preventative measures such as education campaigns, has seen the number of incursions in northern Australia decline over the last decade. But, as Australia has well managed fisheries and healthy fish stocks, there is always the temptation for illegal foreign fishers to try their luck.
AFMA will continue to work with our Commonwealth and international counterparts to deter illegal fishing.
More information on how Australia is working to combat illegal fishing can be found at afma.gov.au