Indonesian fishers plead guilty in Darwin following shark fin haul

When authorities boarded a suspicious fishing vessel off the Territory coastline they made a grim discovery – with the crew subsequently cuffed and taken to Darwin, and their boat sent to be destroyed.

This is what Australian authorities found when they boarded a vessel off the Top End coast. Picture: Supplied.

A senior naval commander has declared maritime operations north of Darwin are “persistent and enduring” after five Indonesian nationals plead guilty to fishing illegally last month.

On July 7, 2024, Australian authorities intercepted a suspicious vessel approximately 294km northeast of Darwin, near New Year Island.

Upon seizing the vessel, authorities discovered a 50kg rack of shark fins, 80kg of bait fish and a substantial amount of fishing equipment.

The vessel was brought ashore where it was destroyed by authorities. Picture: Supplied.

The crew were detained and taken to Darwin, while the vessel was dragged ashore and destroyed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) at a land-based facility.

On July 18, the five fishermen plead guilty to fishing offences and released on $1000 recognisance orders on an undertaking to be of good behaviour for a period of three years.

The crew was returned to Indonesia.

Rear Admiral Brent Sonter maintains Australia’s north is well protected. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Operation Sovereign Borders commander Rear Admiral Brett Sonter said the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and its partner agencies had “zero tolerance” for those who exploited Australian waters.

“Maritime Border Command’s presence in Australia’s northern waters is persistent and enduring,” he said.

“The combined efforts of MBC and partner agencies such as AFMA enables surveillance, patrol and response capabilities to combat illegal activity and threats to Australia’s border.

“The seizure of fishing gear and disposal of vessels serves as a reminder to those seeking to exploit Australia’s marine resources that Australian authorities have zero tolerance for such illegal activity.“

The latest interception follows a separate win for Australian authorities in May, in which an Indonesian national was jailed and their boat destroyed for illegally fishing off the Top End.

The crew of five faced Darwin Local Court last month. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

AFMA general manager Justin Bathurst said the targeting of shark fins continued to pose a threat to the marine ecosystem.

“Australia’s healthy fisheries resources are an attractive target for illegal fishing operators,” he said.

“Sharks are an important part of a healthy ecosystem, helping to control the balance of marine species and ensuring ecological stability.

“Removing sharks from the marine ecosystem threatens the health of our well-managed fisheries.”

Details of the interception come after Home Affairs and Immigration Minister Tony Burke flew to Indonesia this week to hold high-level security talks including issues around people smuggling and civil maritime security.