The ABF apprehended 30 illegal foreign fishers and seized and destroyed three fishing vessels between 23-26 December, representing the largest cohort of foreign fishers to be detained in over a decade. Photo: Australian Border Force.
Increased enforcement activity to combat illegal foreign fishing in the Kimberley Marine Park (KMP) has garnered multiple arrests and a warning from the Australian Border Force (ABF) about crocodile attacks against the criminals.
On 18 January, an ABF post stated its multi-agency taskforce Maritime Border Command (MBC) was aware of a growing number of attacks by the apex predators in Australia’s north-west.
“Those photos are too graphic to show here,” the post reads. “Crocodiles and other natural predators are not authorised under Australian law to conduct fisheries enforcement operations, but this doesn’t stop them from taking matters into their own teeth.”
The ABF said in its post that the MBC was working hard to ensure it caught illegal foreign fishers “before Australia’s wildlife does”. Photo: Facebook/Australian Border Force.
This effort by the ABF is part of Operation LEEDSTRUM, a whole-of-government campaign to stop the growing incidence of illegal foreign fishing in and around the KMP in Western Australia. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is also contributing 600 active personnel to the campaign through Operation Resolute, so it can help the MBC protect Australia’s maritime domain from security threats.
In the last week of December 2023, the ABF and Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) confiscated fishing equipment, 1170 kg of trepang (sea cucumber) and 600 kg of salt used to preserve the former. After their vessels were destroyed, the illegal fishing crews were placed in immigration detention while authorities considered prosecution and removal from Australia.
Recently, nine crew members detained in Darwin over an arrest earlier that month (10-12 December), were each charged with offences against the Commonwealth Fisheries Management Act 1991.
Along with their two fishing vessels being destroyed, an investigation was conducted by AFMA – including forensic analysis of seized mobile devices – prompting their matters to be heard at Darwin Local Court on 11 and 18 January.
Following several findings of guilt in each case, penalties imposed ranged from 12-month good behaviour bonds to imprisonment for up to 90 days. Two of the crew already had outstanding warrants for unpaid fines related to previous fisheries offences.
Operation LEEDSTRUM Commander and Assistant Commissioner Chris Waters said the prosecutions had strengthened the resolve to protect Australian waters in the KMP from illegal fishing.
“Successful prosecutions are the result of an effective multi-agency response that will continue to see illegal fishers being apprehended and brought before the Australian courts,” he said.
The crew members charged were from Indonesia, the government of which Australian authorities have been working closely with to address the ongoing issue. Through public information campaigns to Indonesian communities, the inter-state partnership has been distributing educational material, complemented by targeted social media campaigns and proactive engagement with local fishers.
Australian soldiers and a Border Force liaison officer survey a beach for illegal fishing activities during a clearance patrol in the Kimberley Marine Park, WA, as part of Operation Resolute. Photo: Australian Defence Force/Corporal Madhur Chitnis.
AFMA general manager of fisheries operations Justin Bathurst said Australia’s healthy fisheries were a target for illegal operators, whose activities undermined the sustainability of marine stocks and financially impacted the commercial fishing industry.
“Our message is clear,” he said. ”If you fish illegally in Australia, you will lose your catch, equipment and possibly even your vessel. You will be subject to an investigation and face potential prosecution before an Australian court.”
