The Australian Border Force continues its strong protection of Australia's maritime resources, apprehending two foreign vessels (FFVs) and detaining their crews for allegedly fishing illegally in the Torres Strait
Responding to local community reports on Monday (13 April 2026), ABF aerial and surface assets quickly located the boats hiding within a shallow creek on Prince of Wales Island.
Officers from ABFC Roebuck Bay boarded the vessels and identified evidence of fisheries offences, including a combined total of 300kg of sea cucumber and 300kg of salt used to preserve the catch, along with fishing equipment.
Following consultation with the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), ABF officers determined that apprehension was the appropriate enforcement action.
The crews will be transferred to Darwin, where they will be subject to further investigation by AFMA for suspected offences against the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984.
Both vessels are subject to disposal in accordance with Australian law.
Acting Deputy Commander Maritime Border Command Brooke Dewar said the apprehension demonstrates the ABF's strong, layered enforcement approach, combining air, sea and land patrols with reports from the local community to detect and disrupt illegal activity.
"This is a clear example of our layered approach in action - strong patrols backed by real-time information from the community," Acting Deputy Commander Dewar said.
"Anyone who attempts to fish illegally in Australian waters will be detected, intercepted and held accountable.
"Operation BROADSTAFF continues to deliver results.
"The ABF maintains a constant intelligence-led posture across the Torres Strait and northern Australia, and we will continue this enhanced response for as long as necessary."
This latest interception formed part of Operation BROADSTAFF, a multi‑agency operation targeting illegal foreign fishing across northern Queensland and the Torres Strait.
Since 1 January 2026, the ABF has intercepted 21 illegal foreign fishing vessels and seized more than 3.5 tonnes of sea cucumber.
Anyone with information about suspicious activity which may impact the security of Australia's borders is urged to report to Border Watch.
