The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has joined with the Australian Border Force (ABF) to pursue fishing vessels suspected of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Southern Ocean.
The cooperation was demonstrated when the fishing vessel, FV Cobija was boarded 514 nautical miles south west of Cocos Keeling Islands on the high seas in the Indian Ocean.
The FV Cobija’s captain claimed the vessel was registered under the Bolivian Flag; however a request for information from Bolivia revealed it had not been flagged to there since 2019, and therefore, the vessel was considered stateless.
Commander of the Maritime Border Command (MBC), Rear Admiral Lee Goddard (pictured), said the information gathered by MBC and AFMA would be instrumental in shutting down another illegal fishing operation.
“As a result of this activity we have been able to share important information with our international partners,” Rear Admiral Goddard said
“Stateless vessels operate without governance and oversight to exploit the world’s marine resources.”
General Manager of Fisheries Operations at AFMA, Peter Venslovas said illegal fishing on the high seas was highly organised, mobile and elusive.
“It undermines the sustainability of marine resources and threatens world food security,” Mr Venslovas said
“We are urging our regional partners to deny the FV Cobija port access or, where possible, take action under national laws.”
He said the efforts would work to shut down the vessel’s ability to enter ports where it could unload its illicit catch and access port facilities to resupply and refuel.
