By
Michael Brooke
Two Fremantle Class Patrol Boats (FCPBs), acting in conjunction
with Coastwatch aircraft, have struck serious blows against the
illegal fishing boats poaching Australia’s precious fish
stocks.
HMAS Bendigo (LCDR Anthony Campbell) and HMAS Bunbury (LCDR Andrew
Quinn) apprehended seven ‘Ice Boats’ raiding Australia’s
northern coastal waters during patrols in late September.
The latest haul brings the number of illegal fishing boats detained
by RAN ships to 135 so far this year.
Bunbury caught four ‘Ice Boats’, which have the capacity
to freeze and store large amounts of fish, near Cape Wessels,
about 800 kms northwest of Darwin.
Bunbury escorted three of the four ‘Ice Boats’ to Darwin,
but had to sink the fourth vessel because it was unseaworthy and
could not complete the voyage.
LCDR Quinn said Bunbury has conducted some 22 boardings during
its four operational patrols this year.
“Our main role is border surveillance but we find the apprehension
of illegal fishing boats as a very stimulating and rewarding activity
because of its importance in protecting the country’s fish
stocks from illegal poachers,” said LCDR Quinn.
LCDR Quinn said he was very proud of the crew because of their
professionalism and dedication to duty.
He said all the crew were looking forward to Bunbury’s decommissioning
next year, when they would get a new Armidale Class Patrol Boat
that will help Navy intensify the fight against illegal fishing
vessels.
Meanwhile, Bendigo apprehended three 10m Indonesian flagged fishing
boats with a cargo of 8.5 tonnes of reef fish and 5kg of shark
fin about 161 nautical miles off Cape Leveque.
The illegal boats were taken to Broome where the crews face legal
action.
LCDR Campbell said Bendigo’s crew had conducted 33 operational
boardings in the past 15-months.
The FCPBs are the Navy’s principal contribution to the national
task of fisheries protection and immigration, customs and drug
law enforcement operations.
To combat illegal fishing vessels the FCPBs are equipped with
high definition navigational radar, high and ultra high frequency
communications equipment, gyro-compass and echo sounder.
Federal Fishing Minister Ian MacDonald said the poaching of Australia’s
fish stocks costs the country many millions of dollars each year
in lost trade.
