The Australian Border Force has intercepted an illegal foreign fishing boat off the Northern Territory coastline just hours after launching a new border patrol operation. It comes as rangers and traditional owners voice growing concerns about an increase in illegal fishers in NT waters
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00:00The Australian Border Force has intercepted an illegal foreign fishing boat off the Northern
00:06Territory coastline just hours after launching a new Border Patrol operation.
00:12It comes as rangers and traditional owners voice growing concerns about an increase in
00:17illegal fishes and anti-waters.
00:19Samantha Dick is here to explain.
00:22The latest boat seizure happened on Monday when the Australian Border Force intercepted
00:26an illegal fishing vessel north of Croker Island and detained seven Indonesian fishes.
00:32Acting Commander Tracey Griffin says there are several reasons for the increase.
00:37There's been a number of factors including the depletion of fish stocks in traditional
00:42fishing grounds closer to Indonesia.
00:45We have current favourable weather conditions and there's been a growth in market demand
00:50for fish species such as sea cucumbers from our waters.
00:55Border Force rangers say they've been pushing Border Force to take stronger action after
00:59raising the alarm over a spate of boat arrivals over recent months.
01:04Since early November, at least 10 illegal foreign fishing vessels have been spotted
01:09operating in anti-waters and 12 suspected asylum seekers have been discovered on land
01:14and removed by authorities.
01:17In the week starting 3rd of November, rangers spotted a foreign fishing boat near Maningrida
01:22and locals on Goulburn Island said a foreign fishing crew had broken into cars and stolen
01:27fuel and oil.
01:29On November 10th, Gangi rangers found an illegal fishing vessel near Croker Island.
01:34A day later, West Arnhem traditional owners found four suspected asylum seekers, believed
01:40to be from China, also on Croker Island.
01:43From November 13th to 14th, Border Force intercepted four Indonesian fishing vessels, two on the
01:49Coburg Peninsula, carrying more than 1,000 kilograms of sea cucumbers.
01:54On November 22nd, officers intercepted two foreign fishing vessels in waters near Maningrida.
02:00And on November 26th, Arnhem Land locals say they found eight suspected asylum seekers
02:06on a remote bush track on the Coburg Peninsula.
02:09And Kyle, that's just the incidents we know about.
02:12Rangers say the true number of boats in anti-waters is likely much higher than what's been officially
02:18reported.