3/03/06
State Fisheries officers and the Kimberley's Bardi Aboriginal Community have proven that simple solutions can be effective in dealing with illegal fishing incursions after they successfully apprehended four foreign shark fishermen off One Arm Point last night.
Fisheries Minister Jon Ford said today he hoped the successful apprehension would encourage the Commonwealth Government to fund marine rangers throughout the North-West, after community members and the Operation Pandanus patrol crew worked together to apprehend the Indonesian fishing vessel, about half a kilometre off the One Arm Point coast.
Mr Ford congratulated the One Arm Point community and local fisheries officers and said the apprehension was proof that simple solutions - in partnership between Government and the community - was often the best way to go.
"It is disappointing that the Commonwealth Government was not able to respond after the alarm was raised, with their nearest vessel more than a day away at Ashmore Reef," the Minister said.
The foreign fishermen have been taken into custody and flown to Broome, where they will be questioned about their activities in Western Australian waters.
Community members in a dinghy sighted the wooden Indonesian shark boat off the Kimberley coast at about 2.30pm yesterday and alerted the Bardi Community Marine Patrol.
The two WA Fisheries and Marine Officers and Bardi Community member aboard the Department of Fisheries patrol boat shadowed the shark boat for some time, before moving in to apprehend the vessel and its four crew.
"If the Commonwealth Government would fund our marine ranger program, as part of our joint strategy with the Northern Territory, we could have six more of these teams operating across the State," the Minister said.
Customs and Police officers have been flown to One Arm Point with a member of the Department of Fisheries' International Operations Group, to carry out preliminary interviews with the Indonesian fishermen.
"The two Fisheries Officers and member of Bardi patrol played a crucial role in making sure the foreign vessel did not escape from the area," Mr Ford said.
The Minister said he was very pleased the Bardi Community Marine Patrol, which was set up to provide patrols and protect the region's valuable fish stocks, had been successful.
"We have reallocated our State resources and officers to make the eight-metre patrol vessel (FD10) available for the much-needed patrols, at a time when our Kimberley reefs are particularly exposed to illegal fishing," he said.
Minister's Office - 9213 7200
