Australian border guards seize foreign fishing vessel off Queensland
According to ABC News Australia, the Australian Border Force (ABF) seized a suspected foreign fishing vessel and detained its crew near Little Adolphus Island in the southern Torres Strait, off far north Queensland. The vessel and its crew were discovered on Friday after reports from the local community.
Border guards found signs of suspected illegal fishing on board, including fishing equipment and 700 kilograms of salt for preserving the catch. The ABF said the vessel was found before any marine animals had been caught.
Fishing tour guide spotted the vessel
Dave Hartwell, the owner of Albany Island Fishing Tours, said that a guide from his company spotted the vessel at Little Adolphus Island late last week and contacted border guards. According to Hartwell, the guide saw about seven people on board and offered them emergency assistance and water.
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The vessel was about seven nautical miles northeast of Pajinka, the northernmost point of the Cape York Peninsula. Hartwell estimated its length at about 30–35 feet.
Crew to be examined in Darwin
The crew are to be taken to Darwin for further investigation by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority. The case concerns possible violations of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984, and crew members may face prosecution.
According to the ABF, 24 suspected foreign fishing vessels have been intercepted in the waters of far north Queensland since the beginning of the year, with 14 of them destroyed. Deputy Commander of Maritime Border Command Natasha O’Farrell thanked residents for reporting the vessel and noted that illegal fishing in Australian waters can result in the loss of catch, equipment and the vessel, as well as prosecution.
