The master of the foreign fishing vessel, Nurlaelah was convicted on Friday 13 November 2015 for illegally fishing in Australian waters around Ashmore Island.

The vessel has been destroyed and Elias Missa was fined $2,000.

The Nurlaelah entered the Ashmore Reef Commonwealth Marine Reserve under cover of darkness on 21 October 2015. Once in the vicinity of the reef the crew began illegally fishing, taking 60kg of tropical snapper in about two hours. When the vessel was detected by Australian Border Force (ABF) Officers on the Cutter Cape Jervis, a boarding party halted the boat and conducted an initial search. This search revealed that the vessel was equipped to take commercial quantities of high value reef fish with drop lines and baited handlines.

Senior manager, compliance operations, John Davis, said this conviction was a warning to those seeking to do the wrong thing and plunder Australian marine resources.

“If you do the wrong thing, you will be caught and face the harsh penalties for illegal fishing,” Mr Davis said.

“As a result of blatantly exploiting our marine environment, Mr Missa has not only faced financial penalty but lost his vessel in the process.”

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