Seven Indonesian nationals pleaded guilty to fishing illegally in Australian waters at Darwin Local Court on Thursday March 19, 2026. Their boats were intercepted among a small flotilla of fishing vessels found throughout the Torres Strait and Cape York over the past six weeks.
The matter arose from an incident on March 3, 2026, when Australian authorities, under Operation Broadstaff, responded to information received from a community member regarding a suspected foreign fishing vessel sighted near Escape River, Cape York. ABF located and intercepted an Indonesian vessel concealed within the mangroves of a nearby creek system, seizing approximately 1,950kg of sea cucumber and a variety of fishing equipment.
The vessel was apprehended and the crew detained and transported to Darwin for further investigation by AFMA.
The crew members pleaded guilty to offences against the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth).
The Master, who had been detected in Australian waters on a previous occasion, was sentenced to two months imprisonment, backdated to the day of apprehension on 7 March 2026. Another crew member, also detected in Australian waters on a previous occasion, was released on an $8,000 undertaking to be of good behaviour for a period of 4 years.
Two crew with prior findings of guilt for similar offences were released on $5,000 undertakings to be of good behaviour for a period of 5 years. The final three crew members were released on $3,000 undertakings to be of good behaviour for 3 years.
All fishermen will be removed from Australia by ABF and returned to Indonesia following completion of any relevant period of imprisonment.
