Seven Indonesian nationals have pleaded guilty to illegally fishing in Australian waters and were sentenced in the Darwin Local Court on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, after being intercepted near Melville Island late last month.
According to authorities, the vessel was located on 30 June 2025 and stopped near the Northern Territory’s Melville Island. Officers seized 200 kilograms of salt used to process the catch, along with fishing gear that included a device designed to dredge the sea floor. The boat was seized and later destroyed at sea, in line with Australian law, and the crew were taken to Darwin for investigation by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA).
All seven were charged under the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth). The vessel’s master received a two‑month term of imprisonment, wholly suspended, and was released on a $2,000 good behaviour undertaking for 12 months. He also entered a separate $2,000 undertaking to be of good behaviour for two years.
One crew member, identified as a repeat offender who had breached an earlier good behaviour undertaking, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment from the date of apprehension, to be released after one month on a $2,000 good behaviour undertaking for two years. For the current offence, he also received a concurrent two‑month sentence from the date of apprehension, suspended after one month, with a separate $2,000 good behaviour undertaking for 12 months.
The remaining five crew members were released on $2,000 good behaviour undertakings for two years. All seven will be removed from Australia by the Australian Border Force (ABF) and returned to Indonesia.
AFMA said illegal foreign fishing continues to threaten sustainable fisheries management and border security, and that it is working with the ABF on targeted operations to disrupt incursions. Authorities also work with the Indonesian Government to address the problem at its source through community information efforts, education materials, targeted social media and direct engagement with fishers.
AFMA’s General Manager, Fisheries Operations, Mr Justin Bathurst, said: “AFMA and Maritime Border Command remain resolute in our commitment to detect, apprehend and prosecute illegal fishers.”
“Dredging equipment of the type located aboard this vessel can cause serious environmental damage.”
Commander Maritime Border Command, Rear Admiral Brett Sonter, said: “For people considering fishing illegally in Australia, our message is clear. We will find you, take your catch, destroy your boats and fishing equipment, and you will be prosecuted. Do not put your livelihood at risk by coming to Australia to fish illegally.”
“The Australian Border Force will continue to tackle this important issue alongside our partner agencies and the Northern Territory community.”
Suspected illegal fishing can be reported to authorities via CRIMFISH on 1800 274 634 or by emailing [email protected].
