Illegal fishing interceptions double in 2005

[Derek_Bullock]

Illegal fishing interceptions double in 2005

Last Update: Tuesday, January 3, 2006. 10:50pm (AEDT

The Federal Government says it has intercepted a record 607 illegal fishing boats in the past year in Australia's northern waters, double the number intercepted in 2004 and three times the number for 2003.

The figure was released as 16 Indonesian fishermen caught off the Western Australia coast were jailed.

The entire crew pleaded guilty in Broome Magistrates Court to illegal fishing charges related to the poaching of more than two tonnes of valuable trochus shell from reefs close to the Kimberley coast.

In an unusual move, Magistrate Antoine Bloeman gave the first time offenders - who normally get good behaviour bonds - four month jail terms.

Five repeat offenders, three who were only released from jail in Australia a few weeks ago for a previous offence, were sentenced to between nine and 10 months in jail.

Their boat was spotted by a surveillance aircraft about three nautical miles from the coast in the Buccaneer Archipelago on Boxing Day.

Federal Fisheries Minister Ian Macdonald says the maximum penalties for illegal fishing are strong enough but it is up to the courts to enforce them.

"The fact that there are a number of recidivist offenders might suggest to the courts that the penalties being imposed are not having the appropriate deterrent effect," he said.

Senator Macdonald says more illegal fisherman have been arrested in 2005 because there are now more Navy and Customs officers patrolling the waters.

The increased activity is believed to be due to the record price shark fin is commanding in Asia.

The WA Fisheries Minister John Ford will look at the state penalties but says change to the federal laws is even more urgent.

"They're only catching one out of 10 of these people," he said.

"When they get them they have to actually prove that they've been fishing in the area.

"With the state legislation, if you're caught in the state waters with fishing gear, the assumption is made straight away that you're fishing.

"That's much tougher than the federal legislation."

He says tougher penalties are needed to curb reoffending.

"One of the things that we want to do is have a consistent penalty regime right across Australia and then we want to convince the Commonwealth that we should have consistent penalties there as well," he said.

"We have to act, put a bigger deterrent in there."

[The_Walrus]

Just sink the bastards

Compared to their jails, time in our jails is a holiday for them and then we fly them home

If they're only catching one in ten, then there's work for the navy & airforce.

It's time the federal government stopped pussy footing and be less worried about public opinion.

Luc

[theoldlegend]

Couldn't agree more with Luc. Use 'em as target practice.

It's high time both State and Federal governments stopped making noises about reef closures, GN sharks and the like (all of which sounds good to the voters) and concentrated on stopping this illegal stuff such as providing more resources for surveillance and arrest. Costello has money to burn at the moment, but I'll bet he'll just save it up until 2007 and hit us all with these magnificent tax cuts which will be swallowed up by bracket creep very quickly. Sure fire vote winners!! A bit of tough talking to the Indo government by our Federal ministers wouldn't go astray at all, but then, we don't want to upset them, do we?

As usual, the various Governments bleat about having tough penalties, but then neatly side step the issue by putting the onus on the judiciary, although it makes me wonder what secret deals the Feds might have done with the Indo mob, as these illegal fishers just keep coming back. Obviously they must get fed better in our jails than when they're on a boat pinching our fish etc.

More than two tonnes of trochus shell were allegedly poached. What sort of damage does that do? Is it any wonder I get cranky?

TOL

[Louis]

I believe that it costs the Australian Tax Payer approxiamately $50,000 per year to incarcerate a person in our prison system. On top of that is the massive trial costs etc. incurred through our legal system which can actually make the incarceration costs pale in comparison.

As these persons are from a foreign country, perhaps our government should have an agreement with the Indonesion government whereby these offenders are prosecuted in their courts and if imprisonment is warranted they should be gaoled in their own country.

We should also be endeavouring to ensure that their criminality is not rewarded. It appears at present that if the vast bulk of offenders are escaping prosecution then the offenders are possibly simply looking at apprehension and incarceration as a mild and neccessary impedence and break from their earnings.

I think the government should endeavour to ensure that the profit from their criminal actions is removed.

If vessels were caught and subsequently destroyed more frequently and huge fines imposed by the courts on the ring leaders then perhaps these criminal enterprises would no longer be profitable and as a result would cease.

Unfortunately where profit excists from the commission of crime certain people will always carry this crime out in order to reciece these profits.

Remove the profit and you will remove these criminal enterprises.



Louis

[Gbanger]

Like the article is trying to say, they shouldnt be even allowed in our water with fishing gear..

[roz]

I seriously doubt the Indonesian government would jail any of it's own citizens for fishing (stealing) in Australian waters. Tougher penalities have to be imposed here.

What happens to those indonesian vessels? Are they destroyed?

[Louis]

G'day Roz,


I believe they burn and sink the boats.


Louis