Indonesian fishermen from the vessel Pelangi were sentenced on 14 January 2011 for illegal fishing within Australian waters.
Three crewmembers were fined AUD$10,000 each for using a foreign boat for fishing in Australian waters. The master was fined AUD$15,000 for the same offence and an additional AUD$5,000 for having a foreign boat fishing in Australian waters.
The crew of an Australian Customs Vessel boarded the Pelangi on 23 December 2010 in the Australian Fishing Zone and seized approximately 10kg of shark fin found onboard. The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) authorised Customs to apprehend the vessel and transport the crew members to Darwin for further investigation.
Magistrate Cavanagh commented that the four men from the Pelangi, who appeared before him in the Darwin Court of Summary Jurisdiction, had little regard for Australian law. They had been warned not to fish in the area a number of days prior to their apprehension, but they took no notice of this warning.
