Australia and Indonesia Coordinate Patrols to Target Illegal Fishing

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Bill Farmer, has described the latest coordinated patrols by Australian and Indonesian authorities as “concrete evidence” of the seriousness with which both countries were addressing the threat of illegal fishing in the region.

Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, Bob Debus, announced that vessels from the Australian Customs Service and the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries have completed a two-week operation (11-25 April) of coordinated patrols targeting illegal fishing in the Arafura Sea north-east of Darwin.

The Australian Customs Vessel Triton and Indonesian Fisheries Vessels Hiu Macan 003 and Hiu Macan 004 patrolled their respective Exclusive Economic Zones in this area, with the Indonesian vessels also visiting an Australian port for the first time.

Indonesia’s Minister for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Freddy Numberi said, “Our respective maritime zones should be seen as a common resource and both sides are equally responsible for their wise and sustainable use.”

“We are all committed to the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing practices in our region. This solid cooperation between Australia and Indonesia is very important in establishing coordinated patrols targeting illegal fishing vessels entering Indonesian waters or at the border area between the two countries,” Vice-Admiral (ret) Numberi said.

“A dynamic goal of the coordinated patrols is to increase the number of operations annually and to develop a Regional Monitoring Database (RMD) that can be shared between our two respective countries to serve as the back bone for implementing Fisheries Management Policies (FMP) against IUU Fishing,” Minister Numberi said.

Mr Debus said the operation, which was co-ordinated by Australia’s Border Protection Command and included daily aerial surveillance by Coastwatch and RAAF AP-3C Orion aircraft, was the second co-ordinated patrol involving both Australian and Indonesian vessels.

“While no illegal activity was detected by Australian or Indonesian patrol boats, a number of investigative boardings were undertaken in both Australian and Indonesian waters,” Mr Debus said.

Mr Debus said illegal fishing was an international problem threatening worldwide fish stocks, the marine environment and the border security of all nations in the region.

"The aim of this patrol was to work with Indonesia to detect, board and apprehend any suspected illegal, unlicensed or unreported fishing boats in Australian and Indonesian waters.”

"It also allowed us to test further communication and operational protocols between Australian and Indonesian patrol boats and surveillance aircraft. These protocols will ensure a more effective response to illegal activities within our respective maritime zones," Mr Debus said.

“International co-operation is the key to responding effectively to the illegal fishing problem and I would particularly like to thank the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, and the crews of the patrol vessels, for their support of this patrol activity,” Mr Debus said.

Further information:
Jenny Dee (Counsellor Public Affairs) tel. (021) 2553 5290 mob. 0811 187 3175
Photographs of the patrol are available in the Australian Customs Media Room at www.customs.gov.au