Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Tony Burke MP
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Julie Collins MP
The Albanese Labor Government is continuing its fight against illegal foreign fishing, with more than $55 million in additional funding being invested to strengthen monitoring and enforcement activities in our northern waters.
As part of this year's International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, the Albanese Government is reaffirming its action to combat illegal fishing, to protect Australia's biosecurity, and to support legitimate seafood suppliers.
Through the 2026-27 Budget, the Government is delivering $55.8 million to address border and biosecurity threats from illegal foreign fishing, including $3 million to the Australian Fisheries Management Authority.
Around the globe, an estimated $32 billion a year, or 20 per cent of the world's fish catch, is lost to IUU fishing.
While analysis of Australia's seafood supply chains shows the bulk of Australia's seafood imports were assessed as lower risk of containing product caught through IUU fishing practices, the Government is taking action to lower the risk of IUU seafood being imported.
This is helping to protect Australia's fisheries and aquaculture sectors, which employ around 14,000 people, and in 2024-25 had a production value of around $3.7 billion, and an export value of $1.5 billion.
In 2024-25, Australia imported 227,000 tonnes of edible seafood, valued at $2.4 billion.
Australia employs a multifaceted approach to combat IUU fishing - we take strong enforcement action in our waters and prevent illegal catches from being landed at our ports; cooperate with international partners; share information with neighbours and build regional capacity to address the issue.
Across the last financial year, there have been 46 legislative forfeitures on fishing vessels in our northern waters, with more than 11,200 kilograms of sea cucumber and over 6,500 of other catch seized by Maritime Border Command.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke MP:
"Borders matter. And protecting our waters from illegal fishing is part of preserving our own industry, our environment and our sovereignty.
"Australian Border Force surveillance and patrol capabilities are active across vast and remote maritime regions. Foreign fishers who operate in Australian waters illegally risk losing their haul, their equipment, their vessel, and their freedom."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP:
"Illegal fishers undermine efforts to sustainably manage our fish stocks and their operations can damage reefs and sensitive marine habitats. They also pose a serious biosecurity risk through the movement of pests and diseases.
"Our approach combines strong domestic enforcement and close cooperation with regional partners to tackle this challenge.
"Our additional investment strengthens our ability to detect, deter and respond to illegal foreign fishing in our northern waters."
