Two Indonesian fishers convicted for illegal fishing

Two Indonesian fisherman were convicted and charged with illegal fishing offences in the Darwin Magistrates Court earlier this month. 

Both fishers pleaded guilty in court, and their vessel was confiscated and destroyed at a facility in Darwin. 

The master of an Indonesian fishing vessel and one crew member, who was a repeat offender, were convicted and fined $8,000 and $2,000 respectively, for breaches under the Fisheries Management Act 1991.

The convictions followed an investigation by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) after the vessel was apprehended on July 19 approximately 125 nautical miles off the north Western Australia coast.

Australian Border Force (ABF) tasked the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) vessel HMAS Broome, through Maritime Border Command, to intercept the vessel, where RAN and AFMA officers discovered a quantity of fish and bait on board.

Although the master of the vessel claimed he was unaware they were in Australian waters, the fishing vessel was confirmed to be fishing inside the Australian Fishing Zone on seven occasions prior to the apprehension.