Australian Border Force seize 700kg of sea cucumber and find 30 illegal fishers on four boats off Kimberley

More than 30 illegal fishermen managed to catch 700kg of sea cucumber and 4kg of shark fin before their boats were intercepted off WA’s Kimberley coast this week, authorities have revealed. The Australian Border Force confirmed the details on Thursday after local fishing tour operator Peter Tucker and traditional owner Adrian Lane revealed they had guided the Navy to four vessels hiding in Kuri Bay, 400km north of Broome, on Tuesday. Once the boats were located, officers boarded the vessels and found 33 men. “The officers seized over 700 kilograms of sea cucumber, 2,350 kilograms of salt (for processing), four kilograms of shark fin, four kilograms of sea urchin, and a large quantity of fishing equipment from the vessels,” the ABF said. On Thursday, three of the boats were destroyed at sea. The fourth was sent outside Australian waters with 13 fishers on board. The remaining 20 men, accused of illegal fishing in WA’s waters, are set to be transferred to the Australian mainland amid an investigation into their conduct. ABF Maritime Border Command Rear Admiral Brett Sonter thanked those who notified authorities of their location. “These apprehensions show that the systems in place across this very vast coastline are working, and we thank the community members who reported seeing suspicious activity,” Rear Admiral Sonter said. “Our message is simple and unequivocal – those looking to exploit Australia’s sovereign waters will be detected and intercepted. You will lose your catch, your equipment, and possibly your vessel.” Mr Tucker — who reported the boats to authorities — said sightings of illegal fishers had increased in the area since May. “We weren’t surprised (by the sightings) because we had been seeing them for a while,” Mr Tucker said. “Our reaction was of somewhat of elation because finally the authorities have managed to assist and catch and apprehend them. “They’ve been quite prevalent on the Kimberley coast this year and I guess today was a good day because they are coming down in big numbers.” Mr Tucker said he had observed the sophisticated precautions the illegal fishermen use to avoid detection. “They have this coastline sussed,” he said “They find hiding spots in the mangles at night, and cut down branches of mangroves to put over their boat so they are camouflaged by air.” There were 22 apprehensions and 75 Indonesian fishermen prosecuted in the last financial year, according to the ABF. The Australian Fisheries Management Authority works in partnership with the ABF to stop illegal fishing through techniques including land-based and helicopter patrols. As part of Operation Leedstrum, the ABF says it has “boosted its presence in the region”. Australian Fisheries Management Authority chief executive Wez Norris said illegal fishers would be prosecuted “ to the full extent of the law.” “Not only does this illegal fishing cause serious damage to our fish stocks, but these vessels also pose significant biosecurity risks with serious implications for our well‑protected marine environments, and commercial, recreational fishing and aquaculture industries. “Prosecution outcomes highlight the severity of this offending, and send a clear message to any foreign fishers considering entering Australian waters — your catch will be seized, your vessel destroyed, and you will be facing significant fines and possible imprisonment.”