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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Charter guide spots foreign fishing boat, crew detained

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • An Australian Border Force guide spotted a suspected foreign fishing boat near Albany Island, Queensland.
  • The crew was detained, and evidence of illegal fishing, including 700kg of salt, was found on board.
  • This incident is part of increased efforts against illegal fishing in the Torres Strait, with 14 foreign boats destroyed this year.

The Australian Border Force (ABF) has seized a suspected foreign fishing boat and detained its crew off the northern tip of Queensland. The discovery was made near Little Adolphus Island in the Torres Strait after a charter guide reported the vessel.

He sort of offered… [asked] if they needed any immediate assistance, asked if they needed water

— Dave HartwellOwner of Albany Island Fishing Tours, describing his guide's interaction with the crew of the foreign boat.

Dave Hartwell, owner of Albany Island Fishing Tours, stated that one of his guides observed approximately seven people on board the boat and offered assistance. The guide, surprised by the sighting, immediately contacted Hartwell, who then reported it to the ABF. "He was a bit shocked, actually, rang me so we could report it straight away," Hartwell said, noting the unreliable phone service in the remote area.

He was a bit shocked, actually, rang me so we could report it straight away.

— Dave HartwellOwner of Albany Island Fishing Tours, explaining the immediate report of the sighting.

ABF officers boarded the boat and found evidence suggesting illegal fishing activities, including fishing equipment and 700 kilograms of salt used for preserving catch. However, the ABF confirmed the boat was intercepted before any marine life could be caught. The crew will be transported to Darwin for further investigation by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority regarding suspected violations of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984.

The taskforce uses data, tip-offs and other intelligence to identify areas of unusual activity and in this case, uncovered what we allege to be deliberate and fraudulent conduct from Royal One

— Dave HartwellOwner of Albany Island Fishing Tours, commenting on the speed of the Border Force response.

This incident occurs amidst heightened vigilance against illegal foreign fishing in the region. Since February, when a dedicated operation was launched in response to an influx of such boats, 14 out of 24 suspected illegal foreign fishing vessels apprehended in Far North Queensland waters have been destroyed. Hartwell expressed that while the Border Force's response was swift, residents in isolated communities remain anxious about the presence of these boats, emphasizing the long distances to emergency services.

It would probably take at [the] very minimum, a helicopter or boat an hour to get here if we were in strife.

— Dave HartwellOwner of Albany Island Fishing Tours, highlighting the isolation and response times in the area.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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