Indonesian Nationals Caught Illegal Fishing in Australian Waters

Nine Indonesian nationals were caught illegally fishing in Australian waters near Augustus Island, Western Australia, on September 19, 2024. They were apprehended by Australian authorities while fishing for sea cucumber. The authorities seized 350 kilograms of sea cucumber, valued at approximately A$30,000, along with 175 kilograms of salt and a large quantity of fishing equipment. The crew was taken to Darwin, where their vessel was destroyed at sea in accordance with Australian law.

All nine fishers were charged under the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth). The master of the vessel received a three-week prison sentence, while two other fishers with previous guilty findings for similar offenses also received three-week prison terms. The remaining crew members were released on undertakings to maintain good behavior for 12 months. Australian Border Force will remove all nine fishers from Australia and return them to Indonesia.

Australian authorities are taking steps to combat illegal fishing, including public information campaigns in Indonesian fishing communities, distributing educational materials, targeted social media campaigns, and engaging proactively with fishers. These efforts aim to address the root causes of illegal fishing and prevent future incidents.

Source