Old Footage Does Not Reflect High Level of Fisheries Cooperation

Recently aired television footage (SCTV and MetroTV, 11 June) showing Indonesian fishing boats being burned is over ten years old.

“The airing of footage showing Indonesian fishing boats being burned was quite mischievous as this footage is actually over ten years old,” said Ambassador Bill Farmer.

“This old television footage does not reflect the high level of cooperation that exists between Indonesia and Australia,” he said. This cooperation saw the number of Indonesian fishing vessels detained by Australia drop to 121 in 2007, down from 365 in 2006. Continued cooperation and education should see this figure drop further in 2008.

The footage appears to have been taken from a 2002 documentary. The original footage, of an Indonesian fishing vessel being destroyed by fire, dates back to 1996. In the original footage, the vessel was being towed to port, but, was later deemed to be unsafe and unseaworthy and therefore destroyed at sea after all Indonesian fishermen were transferred to an Australian patrol vessel. Shots were fired into the hull to ensure the vessel would sink after it was set on fire. The practice of firing into vessels is no longer used.

Misunderstandings regarding permissible and non-permissible fishing activities can occur in an area of water, north of the Australia-Indonesia border, where Indonesia has jurisdiction for the management of swimming fish and Australia has jurisdiction for the management of sedentary fish species. To alleviate any confusion regarding allowable activities, the Indonesia and Australia Governments regularly provide updated information to fishing communities throughout Eastern Indonesia.

Ambassador Farmer said the Australian Government does not step back from its tough stance on illegal fishing and we are committed to working closely with Indonesia to address this common challenge.

Media Enquiries:
Jenny Dee, Counsellor (Public Affairs) tel. (021) 2550 5290 mob. 0811 187 3175