Joint media release from Department of Immigration and Border Protection and The Australian Fisheries Management Authority
Maritime Border Command (MBC), a multi-agency task force within the Australian Border Force (ABF) working in cooperation with the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) apprehended a foreign fishing vessel suspected of illegally fishing in Australian waters.
The Vietnamese fishing vessel was initially sighted approximately 450km north-east of Gladstone during an MBC surveillance flight. HMAS Pirie responded to the sighting and after a short pursuit, intercepted the foreign fishing vessel 320km north-east of Gladstone.
Seventeen Vietnamese crew members were apprehended during the boarding of the vessel. While on board, officers located approximately seven tonnes of bêche-de-mer (sea cucumbers), 200 kilograms of fish and various diving equipment including air lines, weight belts, 16 masks, compressor and navigational equipment.
ABF and AFMA Officers board illegal fishing vessel
The vessel and its crew arrived into Gladstone today where further investigations will be undertaken by AFMA. The men will be detained while AFMA considers charges under the Australian Fisheries Management Act 1991.
This apprehension is another example of the efforts of Australian Government agencies working together to detect and apprehend vessels illegally fishing in Australian waters.
Intelligence assessment and aerial surveillance as part of the ABF’s maritime domain awareness in high priority areas provide early threat identification and a cue for on-water response, as demonstrated by recent apprehensions of Vietnamese fishing vessels in Australian waters.
More information on how Australia is working to combat illegal fishing can be found at afma.gov.au