An Australian Border Force boat confronts a suspected illegal fishing boat in Australian waters. Photo: ABF.
The Northern Territory Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Gerard Maley has called for more action and resources from federal authorities to combat a rise in illegal foreign fishing activity in the Territory’s waters.
Mr Maley said the Territory Government was concerned about the current response to a rise in illegal fishing and had called on Australian Border Force and other federal agencies to address the issue.
His call comes after a group of Chinese nationals were allegedly found by local community members walking along a road in western Arnhem Land, two days after Maningrida Marine Rangers detected two Indonesian fishing boats and authorities seized 190 kg of illegally harvested sea cucumber.
“Our government is deeply concerned about the current response to illegal foreign fishing boats in Northern Territory waters,” Mr Maley said.
“Biosecurity is a critical priority of our government, and the arrival of unlawful foreign nationals poses a significant risk to our economy, environment, and communities.”
He said he had raised his concerns directly with the Australian Border Force Commissioner and also discussed the issue with Federal Minister for Northern Australia Madeleine King during meetings in Canberra in November.
“I have written to NT Federal Members Luke Gosling, Marion Scrymgour, and Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, urging them to lobby their federal colleagues for a more robust response,” Mr Maley said.
“I have also asked Border Force to deploy additional resources to monitor NT waters, expand surveillance technology and intelligence sharing, improve communication with NT authorities, and focus on prosecuting and deterring illegal activities.”
He added that Territory Commissioner of Police Michael Murphy had also been in correspondence with the Border Force Commissioner and the head of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) to request more resources, and had scheduled a meeting with the AFMA CEO.
While he praised the actions of rangers and community members in reporting the incursions, he said it wasn’t an issue the Territory could handle alone.
He said illegal foreign fishing posed a “significant threat” to the NT’s $1.3 billion agriculture and fisheries sector, and that apart from the economic and environmental risks, there were also biosecurity risks associated with lumpy skin disease, foot and mouth disease, and the H5N1 strain of avian influenza.
“This is not a challenge the NT can tackle alone,” he said. “The Commonwealth must step up to meet its obligations and provide the resources and support necessary to safeguard our waters, environment, and primary industries.”
