Joint media release Australian Border Force and Australian Fisheries Management Authority
Two foreign vessels suspected of illegally fishing in northern Australian waters have been apprehended by Maritime Border Command (MBC), a part of the Australian Border Force (ABF), in cooperation with the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA).
In the Torres Strait, ABF officers on board ABFC Roebuck Bay located a vessel with 10 crew members on board, with a substantial catch of about 250kg of beche-de-mer (sea cucumber).
In waters off Western Australia, Australian Defence Force personnel from HMAS Ararat, operating under MBC command, identified nine crew members on board a second vessel which was south of Ashmore Islands. While searching the vessel they found fishing equipment deployed in the water. Sharks were found on the end of the fishing lines which were then released.
Commander Maritime Border Command, Rear Admiral Peter Laver, praised the efforts of those involved and the joint agency cooperation in stopping these illegal fishing vessels in Australia’s waters.
“If a foreign fishing vessel enters Australian waters and is involved in illegal activity they will be detected and stopped,” Rear Admiral Laver said.
“We were successfully able to release the sharks back into the wild which is an excellent result.
“Our officers continue to monitor our vast maritime domain in order to protect the nation’s fisheries.”
AFMA General Manager, Fisheries Operations, Peter Venslovas, said the apprehension of foreign fishing vessels is paramount for the sustainability and economic health of Australia’s fishing resources.
“The work of MBC and AFMA is vital to ensure we stamp out illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing in Australian waters to protect our fish resources so they remain sustainable,” Mr Venslovas said.
More information on how Australia is working to combat illegal fishing can be found at afma.gov.au.
Media enquiries: Immigration and Border Protection (02) 6264 2244