The Australian Border Force (ABF) has made significant strides in combatting illegal fishing, intercepting three suspected foreign vessels in Northern Territory waters. The operation, which took place last weekend, resulted in the detention of 18 crew members and the seizure of their catch.
According to an ABF spokesperson, aerial surveillance patrols detected the boats near Money Shoal, approximately 200 kilometers northeast of Darwin. The 18 Indonesian nationals were taken into custody and transported to Darwin, where they face potential charges under the Fisheries Management Act. Authorities also confiscated fishing equipment and 720 kilograms of sea cucumber.
In a decisive response, two of the intercepted vessels were destroyed, while the third was forfeited and escorted out of Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone in collaboration with the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA).
The ABF’s recent actions are part of a broader trend; over the past six months, 171 illegal fishing vessels have been intercepted in Australian waters, with 24 boats destroyed at sea and numerous crew members prosecuted in Australian courts. The AFMA has labeled the current surge in illegal fishing as “unprecedented.”
Traditional owners in Arnhem Land have voiced concerns regarding the increasing number of foreign vessels, some of which are suspected of transporting asylum seekers. Last month, Northern Land Council chairman Matthew Ryan criticized the ABF for its delayed response to alerts from local rangers and called for increased funding to bolster ranger patrols.
This latest operation is part of Operation Lunar, a multi-agency initiative launched late last year in response to rising reports of illegal fishing activity along the Northern Territory and Western Australian coasts. The ABF continues to reinforce its commitment to protecting Australia’s waters and marine resources.
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