Border Protection Command apprehends foreign fishing vessel 275 nautical miles west of Darwin

A FOREIGN fishing vessel has been nabbed about 275 nautical miles west of Darwin.

Border Protection Command (BPC), working closely with the Australian Fisheries Management

A FOREIGN fishing vessel with 500kg of fish on board has been apprehended about 275 nautical miles west of Darwin.

The vessel was initially detected by an Australian Customs and Border Protection Service Dash-8 surveillance aircraft and intercepted on Monday by ACV Botany Bay, under the coordination of Border Protection Command.

The vessel was boarded by BPC-assigned personnel, and was found to have fishing lines deployed and over 500kg of fish on board.

Commander BPC, Rear Admiral Michael Noonan, said the apprehension was the result of strong cooperation between BPC and AFMA to protect Australia’s maritime resources, including fish stocks.

AFMA general manager operations Peter Venslovas said that regular patrols of Australia’s maritime borders were a strong deterrent to illegal foreign fishers with the amount of illegal fishing decreasing significantly over the years.

“These vessels had the potential to take tonnes of fisheries product and inflict damage to marine ecosystems. The apprehension sends a strong message to other potential offenders that you will be caught if you fish illegally for Australian resources and you will face prosecution and have your fishing vessel confiscated.”

The vessel will be towed to Darwin by HMAS Melville where it will be inspected by AFMA and Biosecurity officials.

AFMA will further investigate the activities of the vessel and may lay charges against the master and crew.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture Senator Richard Colbeck said: “This apprehension comes on the back of the recent seizure of four illegal foreign fishing vessels and prosecution of the crew who had taken large quantities of threatened giant clams.”

Senator Colbeck said AFMA plays an important role in regulating illegal foreign fishing in Australia, which poses potential biosecurity risks and impacts on our valuable fisheries resources and the environments that support them.

“Illegal foreign fishing vessels have the potential to take tonnes of fisheries products and inflict heavy damage to our marine ecosystems. This apprehension sends a strong message to other potential offenders that you will be caught and face prosecution if you fish illegally in Australian waters,” Senator Colbeck said.

The amount of illegal fishing has decreased significantly from 367 vessels in 2005-06 to seven vessels in 2012-13. During this financial year twenty one apprehensions have occurred.