More than 2,000 illegal foreign fishing boats have been picked up in Australian waters over the past decade, but the boats keep coming.
Over the past decade, more than 2,000 foreign fishing boats have been caught operating illegally in waters off Australia's northern coastline stretching from Western Australia's Kimberley region to Queensland's far north.
But if you don't live along Australia's northern coastline, you may not be aware of the problems posed by illegal fishing activity.Foreign fishing in Australian waters is not new, with boats from our Indo-Pacific neighbours venturing into southern waters to traditionallyThis traditional fishing practice is still legal if done in certain areas .
Indonesian fishers are allowed to fish in this area but only using traditional fishing methods and on boats without motors or engines. "A lot of these illegal fishers have been coming down using dynamite to take the Indonesian fish stocks and destroy the reefs," the Indonesia Institute's Ross Taylor said.
The influx of foreign fishing boats, particularly within the Kimberley Marine Park in WA, has posed a problem for many Australian commercial and recreational fishers,Under the Fisheries Act, authorities can deem and detain any suspected illegal fishing vessel and its crew with anyone on board charged and prosecuted through the courts.
"You will lose your catch, your equipment, potentially your vessel, and you may be arrested and prosecuted under Australian law."In the sense that illegal fishers are being located in Australian waters, intercepted, and prosecuted through the relevant legal channels, yes."If we've got illegal fishing vessels often entering Australian waters, then what does that say about our border security?" said Anthony Haygarth, acting CEO of the industry body.
Foreign Fishing Australian Fisheries Management Authority Afma Australian Border Force Abf Maritime Border Command MBC Kimberley Darwin Cairns Torres Strait Deterrants Wa News Kimberley News Nt News Darwin News
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