Nineteen Illegal Fishers Plead Guilty in Australia

Nineteen Indonesian nationals pleaded guilty to illegally fishing in Australian waters in five separate cases at Darwin Local Court on September 30.

The first four matters arose from incidents where Australian authorities identified, intercepted, and apprehended Indonesian vessels fishing illegally in Northern Territory between September 7 and 11, 2025.

ABF seized 1,200 kg of sea cucumbers, more than 2,000 kg of salt used to process and preserve catch and a large quantity of fishing equipment. 

The crews were detained and the vessels were seized and destroyed at sea in accordance with Australian law.

All fishers pleaded guilty to offences against the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth).

The master of one vessel was subject to a good behaviour bond imposed for previous similar offending. The current matters breached that undertaking, and he was re-sentenced to one month imprisonment. On the current matters, he received two additional one-month terms of imprisonment, to be served concurrently, and a A$5,000 recognisance order to be of good behaviour for a period of two years.

The master of another vessel received a A$6,000 recognisance order to be of good behaviour for a period of three years.

The masters of the remaining two vessels each received A$5,000 recognisance orders to be of good behaviour for a period of two years.

Of the remaining 14 fishers: five received A$4,000 recognisance orders to be of good behaviour for a period of two years; three received A$3,000 recognisance orders to be of good behaviour for a period of three years; and six received A$2,000 recognisance orders to be of good behaviour for a period of two years.

The fifth matter arose from an incident where Australian authorities identified, intercepted, and apprehended an Indonesian vessel fishing illegally near Rowley Shoals, Western Australia, on August 8, 2025.

The master of the vessel pleaded guilty to offences against the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth) and received a A$5,000 recognisance order to be of good behaviour for a period of three years. He is currently serving a three-month period of imprisonment relating to unpaid fines for previous similar offending.

All fishers will be removed from Australia and returned to Indonesia after having served relevant periods of imprisonment.

There have been 58 Indonesian fishers prosecuted in Darwin Local Court since July 1, 2025.