Australia Cracks Down on Illegal Fishing in Northern Waters

The Australian Border Force has been cracking down on illegal foreign fishing vessels in the waters off the Northern Territory, intercepting a total of 12 vessels in the past month. These vessels were found to be carrying over six tonnes of sea cucumber, 500kg of other catch, and more than two tonnes of salt used for preserving the catch. This operation, known as Operation LUNAR, was launched on December 8, 2024, to combat the rise in illegal fishing activities along the vast Northern Territory coastline, spanning over 10,000km.

In a recent court case at the Darwin Local Court on January 7, 2025, eleven Indonesian nationals pleaded guilty to illegally fishing in Australian waters. The incident leading to their arrest occurred on December 18, 2024, when authorities apprehended their vessel near Croker Island, Northern Territory. The vessel was found to be carrying a large quantity of sea cucumber, weighing approximately 3,200kg, along with various fishing equipment, including a dredging device that poses a threat to delicate reef systems.

Following the seizure of the vessel and its contents, the crew was detained and transported to Darwin. The master of the vessel, along with two crew members who had committed similar offenses in 2017, faced potential prison terms of up to six weeks. The remaining eight crew members were released on A$500 undertakings to maintain good behavior for two years. Since July 1, 2024, a total of 110 Indonesian fishers have been prosecuted in the Darwin Local Court for illegal fishing activities.

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