Sixteen Indonesian nationals pleaded guilty to illegally fishing within Australian waters in two separate cases at Darwin Local Court on Tuesday, November 26, according to a joint media release between the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) and the Australian Border Force (ABF).
The vessels were targeting sea cucumber, a highly prized delicacy commonly sold in Asian markets.
The first case arose from an incident on November 10, when Australian authorities located, intercepted and apprehended an Indonesian vessel fishing illegally near Heywood Shoal, Western Australia.
Authorities seized a quantity of fishing equipment, and the vessel was destroyed at sea in accordance with Australian biosecurity law. Seven crew on board were detained and transported to Darwin for further investigation.
All fishers were charged with offences against the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth). The master of the vessel had prior findings of guilt for similar offending and was fined $10,000. The remaining crew were fined $4,000 each.
The second case arose from an incident on November 17, when Australian authorities located, intercepted and apprehended another Indonesian vessel fishing illegally near Oxley Island, Northern Territory.
Authorities seized a quantity of fishing equipment, and the vessel was also destroyed at sea in accordance with Australian biosecurity law. Nine crew on board were transported to Darwin for further investigation.
All fishers were charged with offences against the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth). The master of the vessel was released on a $10,000 undertaking to be of good behaviour for a period of five years.
The remaining crew were released on $5,000 undertakings to be of good behaviour for a period of five years.
All 16 fishers will be removed from Australia by ABF and returned to Indonesia.
There have been 83 Indonesian fishers prosecuted in Darwin Local Court since July 1.
