Daru National and District Court in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has handed down fines totaling PGK 3,600 (USD 1,067, EUR 949) to 14 fishers who were found guilty of illegally fishing in Australian waters.
The two vessels were caught fishing within the Torres Strait Protected Zone in May 2018, with the fishers apprehended by officers from Maritime Border Command (MBC), a multi-agency taskforce within the Australian Border Force (ABF), working with the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA).
The two masters were both convicted on two counts of unlicensed commercial fishing for crab and finfish near Saibai Island, while their crews were each convicted on one charge.
Their boats and gear had already been confiscated by AFMA.
Under the terms of the Torres Strait Treaty, PNG nationals suspected of fishing illegally in Australian waters of the Torres Strait are repatriated to PNG to face a local court.
“It is a timely reminder that we treat illegal fishing seriously in the Torres Strait and there will be no leeway given to those who break the law,” said Peter Venslovas, AFMA’s general manager of fisheries operations.
Commodore Malcolm Wise, the acting commander of the Maritime Border Command, said the result demonstrated the effectiveness of the multi-agency approach to keeping Australian waters safe.
“Our ongoing presence in the Torres Strait and the collaboration between agencies has seen illegal fishing numbers significantly decrease in recent years and we are ensuring these waters are protected for the future,” he said. “Protecting Australia’s unique marine environment is one of our key priorities and this conviction should send a clear message to those seeking to circumvent the law.”
