AFMA was involved in the recent apprehension of two Indonesian Type 3 Bodhis suspected of conducting multiple incursions deep into the Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ).
Areas close to the banks and shoals located north-west of Cape Londonderry, shared with Indonesia, have long been a target area for illegal foreign fishing. One type of vessel being used in the AFZ for illegal foreign fishing is the TYPE 3 ‘Bodhi’, a motorised vessel less than 20 metres in length.
Bodhi’s can vary in design and length depending on origin of construction, materials used and the particular vessel builder. They are built from timber and can range between 6 and 12 metres in length with a draft between 1 and 1.5 metres. Bodhi’s typically have a maximum speed of 22 knots and are used by illegal fishermen to undertake fast incursions in the AFZ. Their low and narrow profile together with their high speed makes them difficult to detect and intercept.
Manned by just a master and one or two crew members, they usually target fin fish including pelagic, bottom species and sharks. Species are typically caught by long line, a line made of a thick monofil or small rope set with between 40 to 100 large hooks that are attached to the line by a wire trace.
The fishers caught on this occurrence were targeting shark and its possible the Bodhi incursions were deliberately conducted prior to the last quarter moon in October to maximise shark catch rates. However the exact nature of the association between shark fishing and lunar phases in the northern waters is currently unknown.
On the 6 November 2014 the masters of both Bodhis and one re-offender crew member pleaded guilty in the Darwin Magistrate Court. They were fined a total of $20 000.