This is a joint media release from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) and Australian Border Force (ABF).
Seven Indonesian nationals pleaded guilty to illegally fishing in Australian waters at Darwin Local Court on Tuesday, 22 July 2025.
The matters arose from an incident where Australian authorities identified, intercepted and apprehended an Indonesian vessel fishing illegally on 30 June 2025 near Melville Island, Northern Territory.
ABF seized 200 kg of salt used to process and preserve catch and various fishing equipment including a device used to dredge the sea floor. Additionally, the vessel was seized and destroyed at sea in accordance with Australian law. The crew were detained and transported to Darwin for further investigation by AFMA.
All fishers were charged with offences against the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth).
The master of the vessel was sentenced to a 2-month wholly suspended term of imprisonment and released on a $2,000 undertaking to be of good behaviour for a period of 12 months. In addition, he entered a separate $2,000 undertaking to be of good behaviour for a period of 2 years.
One crew member was identified as a recidivist and found to have breached a good behaviour undertaking arising from previous similar offending. He was sentenced to a 3-month term of imprisonment commencing from the date of apprehension, to be released after one month on a $2,000 undertaking to be of good behaviour for a period of 2 years.
On the current charge, he was sentenced to a concurrent 2-month term of imprisonment commencing from the date of apprehension, suspended after one month, with a separate $2,000 undertaking to be of good behaviour for a period of 12 months.
The remaining five crew members were released on $2,000 undertakings to be of good behaviour for a period of 2 years.
All fishers will be removed from Australia by ABF and returned to Indonesia.
The presence of illegal foreign fishing continues to undermine Australia's sustainable fisheries management and border security. AFMA, in partnership with ABF, continues to undertake targeted operations to intercept illegal fishing operations.
Australian authorities work with the Indonesian Government to address illegal fishing at its source, through the delivery of public information campaigns within Indonesian fishing communities, the distribution of educational material, targeted social media campaigns, and proactive engagement with fishers.
Quotes attributable to AFMA's General Manager, Fisheries Operations, Mr Justin Bathurst:
"AFMA and Maritime Border Command remain resolute in our commitment to detect, apprehend and prosecute illegal fishers.
"Dredging equipment of the type located aboard this vessel can cause serious environmental damage."
Quotes attributable to Commander Maritime Border Command, Rear Admiral Brett Sonter:
"For people considering fishing illegally in Australia, our message is clear. We will find you, take your catch, destroy your boats and fishing equipment, and you will be prosecuted. Do not put your livelihood at risk by coming to Australia to fish illegally.
"The Australian Border Force will continue to tackle this important issue alongside our partner agencies and the Northern Territory community."
