Three Indonesian fishers caught ‘blast fishing’ with explosives in Australian waters in October have been convicted for illegal fishing and their two boats have been destroyed.

The two vessels were destroyed at AFMA’s vessel destruction facilities

The two vessels were destroyed at AFMA’s vessel destruction facilities

Following investigations by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) the three men all pleaded guilty in the Darwin courts and were fined a total of $43,000. Both boats were confiscated by AFMA and were destroyed by incineration at AFMA’s vessel destruction facilities in Broome and Darwin.

Both vessels were initially seen by surveillance aircraft from the Australian Border Protection Command. The first boat was apprehended on 1 October and the second boat on 2 October.

Both vessels had chemicals onboard, including TNT and detonators to make small bombs for the purpose of fishing. Both masters admitted to using the equipment to undertake blast fishing in Australian waters.

AFMA general manager fishing operations Peter Venslovas said that court outcomes reflected the serious nature of the offences and the environmental destruction that blast fishing can cause.

“The convictions and fines coupled with the confiscation and incineration of both vessels send a strong message to illegal foreign fishers”, Mr Venslovas said.

“Blast fishing is a fishing method not previously encountered in Australian waters and we warn others that this type of activity will not be tolerated by Australia’s border protection authorities.”