Latest news with #illegalfishing
SBS Australia
23-07-2025
- SBS Australia
Illegal foreign fishers detained in Darwin hotel
Illegal foreign fishers detained in Darwin hotel Published 23 July 2025, 8:43 am Foreign nationals accused of fishing illegally in Australia's northern waters are being held under guard at a hotel in Darwin's CBD. The make-shift detention facility is housing they wait for their case to be heard in court.
RNZ News
22-07-2025
- RNZ News
Man found with over 600 pāua gets prison time
Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi A 63-year-old Porirua man found with over 600 pāua has been sent to prison for more than 2 years. Ruteru Sufia was sentenced in the Porirua District Court today on four charges under the Fisheries Act and one charge under the Fisheries (Amateur Fishing) Regulations. The Court also banned him from all forms of fishing for three years. In 2022, 65 whole and 554 shucked pāua were found in Sufia's freezers by Fishery Officers. "This was a large amount of pāua, more than 60 times the daily catch limit and more than 30 times the accumulation limit," Fisheries New Zealand Regional Manager, Fisheries Compliance, Phil Tasker said. He said 45 of the pāua found were undersize and Sufia claimed the pāua in his freezer was for a wedding in Auckland. It was an explanation the court didn't believe. While on bail on charges related to those pāua, Sufia was caught with a further 48 pāua, with 29 less than the minimum legal size. "Sufia intended to sell this seafood, which is also illegal. We have zero tolerance for poachers - they affect the sustainability of our shared fisheries, and they affect people who legitimately trade in seafood," he said. "When we find evidence of illegal fishing - you can be assured that we will investigate and depending on the circumstances, place the matter before the court," Tasker said. He said Sufia has a long record of breaking fisheries rules, with more than 35 offences dealt with by MPI over a number of years.
ABC News
19-07-2025
- ABC News
In Australia's north, Indigenous rangers are battling a spike in illegal foreign fishers
Binoculars in hand, Grace Wunungmurra peers out over a seemingly endless expanse of water, searching for the equivalent of a needle in a haystack. The Dhimurru ranger and coxswain scans across hundreds of hectares of Aboriginal sea country in Arnhem Land, trying to spot foreign fishing vessels camouflaged against rocks, or hidden deep in the mangroves. "If you're coming from either direction, you wouldn't really see it, because they cover it up," she said. Foreign fishers illegally entering northern Australian waters have been caught in their dozens in the remote Top End in the past 12 months, marking a concerning spike in cases. The Australian Fisheries Management Authority said 237 foreign fishers had been prosecuted in the Darwin Local Court since July 2024, up from 75 fishers the 12 months prior, and from just 36 cases in 2022-23. The fishers have been entering Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) trying to take a haul of the north's lucrative marine life, such as trepang (sea cucumber) and shark fin, both considered delicacies in China. Many of them hail from poverty-stricken villages in Indonesia. Dhimurru managing director Djawa "Timmy" Burarrwanga said there were fears among Aboriginal landholders in north-east Arnhem Land that traditional seafood populations would be wiped out. "There will be no more for our future generations," he said. "If we don't look after the borders, there will be thousands and thousands of boats coming in." On the frontline of trying to spot these fishers are Aboriginal ranger groups across the remote Top End. As well as illegal fishers, during the past year rangers have also reported instances of people smuggling, including a case where a group of suspected Chinese nationals were left stranded in remote bushland. Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation's executive officer, Stephina Salee, said her ranger group managed an area of land and sea country larger than 550,000 hectares — roughly 42,000 hectares per ranger. "That's equivalent to the size of the urban setting of Singapore," she said. "Rangers are there to manage land and sea … for their people, and that in itself is a massive role. "And on top of it, now we're having to do border security, which is very difficult. Ms Salee said the intrusion of foreign fishers into Arnhem Land waters also brought with it elements of danger. She said that earlier this year, illegal fishers were discovered by traditional owners near the remote Wessel Islands, just outside of the Dhimurru IPA, with one of the fishers reportedly holding a firearm. Australian Border Force (ABF) said in a statement it had found no cases of illegal foreign fishers carrying firearms on vessels in Northern Territory waters in 2025. "The ABF strongly encourages community members to report any such incidents to the Northern Territory Police immediately," a spokesperson said. Dhimurru leaders said rangers had been left under-resourced and legally powerless to properly enforce the growing issue. Currently, the ABF is the main authority for border protection in the north, and has launched Operation Lunar to target illegal foreign fishing in the NT following the recent uptick. The ABF has previously been criticised for its slow response to the influx. Ms Salee said rangers should be given additional powers to be able to deal with the fishers or smugglers at the point of contact, rather than simply reporting it, and having to wait for ABF officers or other authorities to attend. "A bit of power to actually enact and re-enforce some of the laws here, within these waters," she said. Out on the water, Ms Wunungmurra said having extra enforcement powers would help to police the problem. "It'd be awesome to have rangers … have the power to go out and fine someone for doing the wrong thing out on country," she said. Northern Land Council chair Matt Ryan agreed, calling it "a matter of national security and biosecurity". "Traditional owners are sick and tired of their hard-fought sea rights being disrespected," he said. "Aboriginal ranger groups must be better equipped with compliance powers, appropriate training and proper resources in order to continue protecting the northern Australian coastline. "Authorities and agencies must work closely with Aboriginal ranger groups and land councils to determine what powers would be most appropriate and effective in dealing with these matters." Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke did not directly answer questions about whether additional powers for rangers would be considered by the federal government. "The relationship with Indigenous rangers was unfortunately allowed to collapse over the last decade," he said in a statement. "I am always looking for opportunities to strengthen that vital relationship." An ABF spokesperson said the organisation was "collaborating" with rangers to co-design an Indigenous-led partnership which would "collectively address shared border protection challenges". "Specifically, the partnership will lead to more effective operational cooperation through coordinated coastal patrols and intelligence sharing," the spokesperson said. "Ranger groups involved in operations will focus on information gathering and surveillance, not apprehensions or arrests." The ABF also said it was holding training programs over the next few months to "immediately upskill ranger groups", including in "intelligence collection, personal safety and operational planning". "These programs are only just the beginning," the spokesperson said. Ms Salee said it was now incumbent on government agencies to prove they were listening to ranger groups as they dealt with the influx. "Come and have a seat at our table, let us take you out [on the water]," she said. "Let us show you the problem, because we also have the solution."
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tragic discovery in Aussie river prompts $40,000 fine warning
After three platypus were killed in an illegal fishing trap at a major east coast river in just a few days, a conservationist has warned the loss could "knock a fairly big hole" in the region's total population. The Australian Platypus Conservancy reported that three of the uniquely Aussie mammals were found dead in the Little Yarra River at Yarra Junction in Victoria last week, a sobering reminder of the consequences of enclosed yabbying and fishing nets, which the state banned in mid-2017. The group said it's "worrying that, having killed a platypus one day", the same person "would come back and kill two more the next". While there's been a significant improvement since the traps were prohibited, according to Director Geoff Williams, there are some people that still fail to get the message. Speaking to Yahoo, Williams warned that removing even a few individuals could have serious impacts on local platypus numbers. "Most platypus populations occur naturally at relatively low levels of abundance," he said. "For example, for the Little Yarra River, our previous surveys indicate a population density of around only two to three adults per kilometre. Therefore, a trap that kills three individuals at one spot is knocking a fairly big hole in the total population." Why is the loss of two to three platypus potentially devastating? That kind of loss is particularly alarming in a species like the platypus, which is already facing growing threats from habitat loss, pollution, climate change and reduced river flows. The iconic mammal has slow reproduction rates and often relies on stable territories to thrive. In small, fragmented populations, losing just a few adults — especially breeding females — can severely affect genetic diversity, reduce breeding success in future seasons, and disrupt the delicate balance of local ecosystems. In isolated systems like the Little Yarra River, where numbers are already low, these deaths represent not just an immediate loss, but a potential long-term setback to the viability of the entire population. It's not the first time that fishing gear has caused a platypus's death, with another found entangled in fishing line in Sydney earlier this year. Experts said the death was the fourth in mere months. Williams said that since easy-to-buy traps, such as opera house nets, have largely disappeared, there has been a vast improvement. But, occasionally, unlawful traps do emerge. "You can never have enough public education on such issues, especially for those who think 'home-made' traps are somehow not subject to the basic regulations," he said. "Illegal trap usage tends to be most prevalent in 'urban fringe' areas — as was the case in this incident," he said. "In other words, genuine country people tend to know and respect the rules and city people are not involved anyway (except possibly during holiday periods when they might try yabbying or fishing with the kids)." 🎣 Plea after fisherman fined $2000 for 'doing the wrong thing' 💦 Sad find in river highlights 'urgent' crisis: 'Heartbreaking' 🏖️ Disturbing find exposes problem taking over Aussie waterways Williams said that enforcement is always welcome, with anecdotal reports suggesting that many states and territories have reduced the number of wildlife and fisheries officers "out-and-about in the field". In Victoria, illegally using enclosed fishing traps can result in fines up to $39,652 or 24 months' prison, while killing protected wildlife is a criminal offence. The Victorian Fisheries Authority is currently investigating the incident at Yarra Junction — anyone with information can contact the VFA Hotline on 13FISH (13 3474). Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
RNZ News
26-06-2025
- RNZ News
Southland commercial fishermen sentenced for selling black market seafood worth thousands
Duncan William Davis, who was not a commercial fisherman, sold up to 400 punnets of kina roe. Photo: EnviroStrat_Kinamonics Three Southland commercial fishers and another man have been fined for selling thousands of dollars of black market seafood. Fishermen Michael Noel Hawke, 61, Stuart Teiwi Ryan, 48 and Peter George Fletcher, 32, were sentenced at the Invercargill District Court after pleading guilty to a number of charges under the Fisheries Act. Duncan William Davis, 39, was sentenced on two charges for selling a large amount of kina, some pāua and blue cod that he had either caught or bought from Ryan to resell. The four men were fined a total of $36,900. The fines followed a larger 2023 investigation into the illegal sale of seafood, with fishery officers examining landing records and communication between the fishers, black-market suppliers and possible buyers. Fisheries New Zealand district manager Greg Forbes said none of the fishers held permits allowing them to sell fish. "Most commercial fishers follow the rules because they want their fishery to remain sustainable into the future - black-market sales of recreational catch is a slap in the face to the majority of commercial fishers who do the right thing," he said. Davis, who was not a commercial fisherman, faced the largest fine of $14,000 after selling up to 400 punnets of kina roe valued at up to $5000 and fish valued at about $2000. "This was deliberate and the motivation was simply to make money," he said. The investigation found Hawke, who was fined $6000, sold about 1000 dredge oysters during the 2023 season. They were valued at more than $3000 and while he was allowed to take them recreationally they were not part of his allowable commercial take. The investigation also found a deckhand aboard the fishing vessel was selling his allowable recreational catch. Forbes said Ryan was fined $13,000 after selling 114 crayfish and about 40 blue cod, making $2250. "Crayfish retails at about $140 a kg and blue cod $75 a kg," he said. Fletcher, who was a commercial fisherman and was fined $3900, sold about 200 dredge oysters illegally on about six occasions, Forbes said. "When we find evidence of deliberate illegal sales of seafood - we will take action," he said. "Poachers steal from everyone because the shared resources belong to all New Zealanders. Their behaviour also undermines the Quota Management System and our reputation for sustainable kaimoana." People could report suspected illegal activity through the Ministry of Primary Industries' poaching line 0800 476 224. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
