Border Force seizes six tonnes of sea cucumber from illegal fishos

Border Force has had a big first month in its latest operation against illegal fishermen. Watch the video.

Australian Border Force has seized six tonnes of sea cucumber from foreign fishing vessels operating illegally off NT coastal waters in the past month, including a two-tonne seizure at Cobourg Peninsula on Saturday.

Border Force acting commander Tracie Griffin said the introduction of Operation Lunar late last year in response to increased reports of foreign fishing vessel incursions had netted 12 foreign fishing vessels.

In addition to the more than six tonnes of sea cucumber, 500kg of other catch and over two tonnes of salt, for preserving the catch, were also seized.

Following consultation with the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, the two-tonnes seized from Cobourg Peninsula on January 4 was returned to sea and the seven crew on board and the vessel were directed out of Australian waters.

The vessel seized off Cobourg Peninsula.

Late last month a boat was destroyed by Border Force because the skipper and the vessel had both been previously caught off Australian waters.

Ms Griffin said while the results demonstrated Operation LUNAR was having an immediate impact, the ABF would continue its strong enforcement actions to build capability in the NT for as long as required.

“ABF is committed to protecting our vulnerable marine resources and delicate ecosystems through the targeting of irregular foreign fishing in Australian waters,” Acting Commander Griffin said.

“However, with well in excess of 10,000km of NT coastline to protect – vast amounts of which is situated in very remote areas – we are not naive enough to suggest that we can be everywhere at any one time, which is why members of the public are important as extra eyes and ears.

“Everyone can do their part by simply keeping a watchful eye and reporting anything out of the ordinary.”

Operation Lunar was launched on December 8, 2024 in response to months of repeated sightings of foreign fishing vessels off the Territory coastline, which came to a head in November when two boat loads of Chinese asylum seekers were dumped at Arnhem Land.

A multi-agency operation using assets sourced from Border Force, Australian Defence Force and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, the operation was modelled on Western Australian-based Operation Leestrum which targets illegal foreign fishing around the Kimberley Marine Park.

Originally published as Border Force seizes six tonnes of sea cucumber from illegal fishos