ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Six Indonesian fishing boats were seized by Australian authorities. They were arrested in June on different days.
Currently, the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Darwin, Northern Territory, Bagus Hendraning Kobarsih is accompanying the victims.
“Of the six cases, five of them have been handled and the fishermen have been sent home. They come from Sulawesi and Nusa Tenggara,” said Bagus Hendraning Kobarsih, Thursday, June 27 2024.
One case is still waiting for complete documents to be issued a travel letter such as a passport (SPLP) from the Consulate in Darwin after receiving the required documents from the Merauke Regional Government.
Bagus explained that on 18 and 21 June Australian authorities arrested two fishing boats containing 15 crew members from Merauke while fishing in Arafura Marine.
Currently, they are quarantined in a hotel in Darwin while waiting for their repatriation which will be carried out after their immigration documents are complete. If the documents are complete, they will be immediately sent home by Australia.
The Australian government will provide an allowance of 50 Australian dollars to each fisherman upon repatriation.
“The fishermen were not detained so they were free to interact, although officers still had their cellphones secured and returned before being sent home,” explained Bagus.
Head of the Merauke Regency Border Management Agency, Rekianus Samkakai, admitted that the Australian Border Force authorities arrested two fishing boats from Merauke, South Papua, namely the motor fishing boat (KMN) Nurlela with eight crew members, which was arrested on Tuesday, June 18 and the KMN Putra Iksan was arrested on Friday, June 21. with a crew of seven.
The arrest occurred when the two ships were fishing in Arafura Marine.
The 15 fishermen detained in Darwin, Australia are eight crew members from KMN Nurlela consisting of Hendra Seputra, Andreas, Nelson Djutay, Demitrius Mangar, Muhamad Wahyudin, Kores Lefuray and Wifner Warkey, and seven crew members from KMN Putera Iksan, namely Ahmad, Rudi, Janneng, Nangda, Jemnisi, Herman and Suristo, said Rekianus Samkakai.
15 Illegal Foreign Fishers Apprehended Near Deliverance Island
In media release between Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) quoted from afma.gov.au, Friday, June 6 28, Australian Border Force (ABF) has apprehended 15 illegal foreign fishers and seized two foreign fishing vessels earlier this week, as operations targeting illegal fishing continue across the country’s north and northwest.
ABF’s Maritime Border Command (MBC), in partnership with the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), detected and apprehended the Indonesian vessels found to be allegedly fishing illegally in the vicinity of Deliverance Island – also known as Warul Kawa Indigenous Protected Area – west of the Torres Strait, on Tuesday 18 June 2024.
The illegal fishing crews have been safely conveyed to Darwin and placed in fisheries detention while these matters are investigated, and prosecution considered.
The large fishing vessels were equipped with a substantial quantity of fishing equipment which could have significantly impacted Australia’s healthy fish stocks. The equipment and vessels were seized and will be lawfully disposed of by AFMA.
Commander MBC, Rear Admiral Brett Sonter, RAM, said this action should serve as a stern warning for any crew of vessels illegally fishing in Australian waters.
“If you fish illegally, you will lose your vessel, your equipment and you will be placed in immigration detention to face potential prosecution in Australian courts,” RADM Sonter said.
“The level of professionalism and commitment our officers are undertaking whilst working in difficult conditions demonstrates their commitment to protecting Australia’s marine environment and our most vital asset – our border,”
“Maritime Border Command is deploying multiple assets and utilising whatever powers available to deter, detect and take enforcement action in response to illegal foreign fishing in Australian waters. This process ensures a multi-layered approach to monitoring Australian waters using air, sea, littoral, and land assets combined with detection and enforcement effects.”
Chief Executive Officer, Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Mr Wez Norris, said that while efforts to prevent illegal fishing at its source are ongoing, we remain focused on strong enforcement action to protect our precious marine resources.
“Australia’s healthy fisheries resources are an attractive target for illegal fishing operators. Therefore, AFMA and our partner agencies must remain focused on apprehending and prosecuting illegal fishers.” (ANT/Afma.Gov.au)
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