Australia, Indonesia Plan to Fight Illegal Fishing
Date: 21-Dec-05
Country: AUSTRALIA
Australian Fisheries Minister Ian Macdonald said on Tuesday the goal of the patrols would be to turn back Indonesian fishermen before they were able to raid the country's fish stocks.
"By doing this not only would it help reduce the number of incursions into Australian waters, but also reduce the number of Indonesian nationals being arrested in Australia," Macdonald said in a statement.
Australia says Indonesian fishermen are venturing into its waters to fish for lucrative shark fin because they have depleted their own stocks. Shark fin is a delicacy in Asia and can earn fishermen up to A$200 ($148) a kilo.
The Australian government cracked down on illegal fishing this year, apprehending 1,760 crew and destroying 220 boats. A total of 432 masters and senior crew have been charged with offences, with lower order crew sent straight back to Indonesia.
Another 242 boats, illegally fishing for shark fin, have also been intercepted and ordered out of Australian waters and their fishing gear confiscated.
Some Indonesian fishermen have tried to avoid capture by brandishing burning poles, knives and machetes, says Australia. It has boosted its border security with several new patrol boats.
Macdonald, who met with his Indonesian counterpart Freddy Numberi and Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda in Jakarta on Monday, said there would also be greater involvement by Indonesian police in investigating illegal fishing.
"We agreed that the trade was increasingly being driven by international crime syndicates and are concerned that the penalties involved are not a sufficient deterrent for those syndicates," he said.
"We need to make it abundantly clear that Australian waters are off limits and we will continue to arrest those found stealing our fish stocks," Macdonald said.
Australia also plans to target Indonesian fishing villages with a A$300,000 education campaign about the perils of illegal fishing.
(US$1=A$1.35)