Indonesian fishing vessel ''Jimbar Wana'' was apprehended by AFMA on 10 December 2011, after it had been sighted by surveillance aircraft illegally fishing in the Australian fishing zone.
The Jimbar Wana was bought to the Port of Darwin for investigation and charges were bought against the master, who was found guilty and sentenced with a fine on 23 December 2011.
The 18m fishing vessel, constructed of wood and fibreglass, was condemned as forfeit to the Australian government. The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) is responsible for the safe and cost effective disposal of apprehended fishing vessels. Apprehended foreign fishing vessels pose a number of environmental risks as they can be a vector for the introduction of terrestrial and marine pests and need to be disposed of in a controlled and orderly manner.
The Jimbar Wana underwent a fumigation treatment for the wood in the hull and was later disposed of by deep burial on 12 January 2012.
The confiscation and destruction of vessels acts as a major deterrent to would-be illegal foreign fishers and this has been a major factor in stemming the number of incursions into Australian waters over the last five years.
