Australia and Indonesia continue to work together to combat illegal fishing with the 21st co-ordinated Australian and Indonesian fisheries department patrol of northern fishing grounds wrapping up last month.
The Captain of the Indonesian Fisheries Vessel Hui Macam Tutul, Priyo Kuriawan and AFMA Senior Fisheries officer Michael Freeland on patrol .
The patrol took place in the waters to Australia’s north and covered areas under Australian jurisdiction as well as an area of overlapping jurisdiction. These waters are complex and are a shared jurisdiction. In many areas the water column belongs to Indonesia but the sea bed below, and its resources, belong to Australia.
Co-operative patrols such as this help to develop cross border networking and regional friendships between fisheries officers from different countries, helping to form a united front against illegal fishing in these remote areas.
AFMA senior fisheries officer Michael Freeland was aboard an Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries patrol vessel, while AFMA senior fisheries officer Brendan Rayner was on an Australian Border Force patrol vessel.