Huge Illegal Fishing Boat Nabbed of the Coast of Australia

[PlatinumHooks]

THE biggest of more than 100 fishing vessels caught poaching in Australian waters...............

...this year has been apprehended off the Northern Territory coast.

The 40m-long trawler had a haul of 25 tonnes of reef fish on board when it was intercepted by the Australian navy yesterday.
Federal Fisheries Minister Ian Macdonald said the vessel was flagged to Indonesia but operated from a base in Thailand.

All 22 crew members on board were Thai Nationals.

The vessel, boarded by the crew of HMAS Geraldton, was found near Evans Shoal north of Darwin.

Senator Macdonald said it was the largest fishing vessel caught in Australian waters this year and was found just eight nautical miles inside the Australian Fishing Zone,


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"This is a major arrest and sends a message across the globe that Australia is tough on fish poachers," he said.
"This is the first boat we have apprehended this year that has not been based in Indonesia.

"My message to foreign fishermen is simple – stay out of Australian waters if you want to keep your vessel and your livelihood."

The trawler is being escorted to Darwin where Australian Fisheries Management Authority officers will begin interviewing the crew.

The fishermen are expected to face charges under Australia's Fisheries Management Act.

Authorities have intercepted 115 illegal fishing boats in Australian waters so far this year.

Last week federal Parliament passed tough laws allowing private contractors to detain people caught fishing illegally in Australian waters.

The legislation was sought following an alarming increase in patterns of illegal foreign fishing in northern waters.

The Border Protection Legislation Amendment Bill strengthens laws for catching and prosecuting poachers and irons out current inconsistencies in legislation.

The amendments also allow detained fishing crews currently housed on their boats in Darwin harbour to be moved to an onshore facility.

Fisheries officers' search powers have been boosted to include strip searches and other measures such as collecting personal identification from suspects.

[jstcrzyengh]

Good to hear. Why is it that the southeast asia countries just think they can take as much as they want or whatever they want from the worlds oceans and it is ok. IT really pisses me off!!!

[PlatinumHooks]

Originally Posted by jstcrzyengh

Good to hear. Why is it that the southeast asia countries just think they can take as much as they want or whatever they want from the worlds oceans and it is ok. IT really pisses me off!!!

Because it is customary in most 3rd world countries to have no rules and no ethics.