Darwin Local Court: Indonesian fishermen ordered to pay $40k in fines

After being held in custody for almost three weeks, a crew of foreign fishermen have now been ordered to cough up $40,000 in fines for their illegal fishing trip off Arnhem Land.

ABF Cape-Class Patrol Boat Cape York (pictured) was involved in the intercepted and arrest of seven Indonesian fishermen earlier this month.

A crew of foreign fishermen have been ordered to cough up $40,000 in fines after authorities nabbed them plundering sea cucumber off the coast of Arnhem Land.

In early June, a foreign fishing vessel was sighted off Maningrida by Bawinanga Rangers, who reported the find to Australian Border Force (ABF).

ABF dispatched Cape-Class Patrol Boat Cape York to the area, assisted by a helicopter.

On June 6, Cape York intercepted and arrested the crew.

Prior to destroying the foreign vessel, officers seized 750kgs of sea cucumber found on deck.

After almost three weeks in custody, the crew was brought before Darwin Local Court on June 24.

The master of the vessel was fined a hefty $10,000 while the remaining six crew members were each fined $4000.

One crew member pleaded guilty to a separate illegal fishing offence committed in March and was fined an additional $6000.

Through a translator, the crew were told the fines needed to be paid within 28 days with potential terms of imprisonment if they failed to do so.

Since July 1, 2024, there have been 244 Indonesian fishers prosecuted in Darwin.

There has been a substantial spike in the past few months, with the tally having been 132 on March 4, 2025.

Originally published as Darwin Local Court: Indonesian fishermen ordered to pay $40k in fines