Joint media release Australian Fisheries Management Authority and Department of Immigration and Border Protection
In a major strike against illegal fishing, four illegal foreign fishers involved in three separate incidents were convicted in Darwin courts last Friday after investigations by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), in cooperation with Maritime Border Command (MBC), a multi-agency task force embedded within the Australian Border Force (ABF).
In the Northern Territory Supreme Court, the master of the Papua New Guinea-flagged trawler CAPS 01, was convicted and fined $110 000. The owners were also penalised $300 000, after posting a bond for the return of their vessel on the condition that its location could be monitored by AFMA’s satellite-based tracking system. These are the highest penalties for illegal fishing in more than a decade.
The CAPS 01 was apprehended on 23 September 2016 approximately 110 nautical miles west of Thursday Island. Australian Defence Vessel Cape Byron, assigned to MBC, and an AFMA officer, embarked, intercepted and boarded the vessel. Approximately 10 tonnes of catch was found on board the vessel, which was also actively trawling at the time of apprehension.
In another matter, the Indonesian master of the BERKAH III, pleaded guilty to two offences and was fined $15,000. The fisherman had just completed a term of imprisonment at Darwin Correctional Centre for an unpaid fine relating to a previous conviction. The BERKAH III was apprehended on 6 November 2016 by ABF Cutter Cape St George approximately 150 nautical miles north-west of Cape Londonderry. AFMA confiscated the vessel and destroyed it by burning.
In a separate matter, an Indonesian fishing vessel master and one reoffending crew member from the vessel AKRAB 01 were convicted in Darwin Local Court and received fines totalling $10 000. The AKRAB 01 was sighted by an MBC aircraft during a surveillance flight on 15 November 2016, and boarded that day by ABF Cutter Cape St George. The vessel was approximately 27 nautical miles south-east of Browse Island, with catch on board consisting mainly of shark fin and trochus. The vessel was also confiscated and destroyed by AFMA.
AFMA’s General Manager of Operations Peter Venslovas said the penalties approaching nearly half a million dollars should send a strong message to those who think they can get away with ransacking Australia’s maritime resources.
“Australian fisheries are very well managed and, as such, are a target for foreign operators seeking out new opportunities,” Mr Venslovas said. “It is important that we remain vigilant to ensure our fish resources are protected so they remain biologically and economically sustainable.”
Commander MBC, Rear Admiral Peter Laver, praised the successful prosecution of the illegal fishers, saying that it presents a strong deterrence to others thinking of fishing illegally in Australia’s waters.
“MBC is committed to working together with AFMA to stop illegal fishing and protect Australia’s unique maritime resources,” Rear Admiral Laver said. “These prosecutions demonstrate that we take this issue very seriously.”
More information on how Australia is working to combat illegal fishing can be found at afma.gov.au.