TEMPO.CO, Kupang - Australian authorities have detained eight Indonesian fishermen all from the village of Maginti, Southeast Sulawesi, caught on Friday in the Timor Sea, an Indonesian official said on Wednesday.

Head of the East Nusa Tenggara Marine and Fishery Office Ganef Wurgiyanto said he received the information from the Indonesian Consulate in Darwin, Australia.

Based on a report released by Australiaplus, Australias MBC surveillance aircraft detected the boat flying the Indonesian flag near the island of Browse, around 280 miles northeast of the Broome sea of western Australia . The boat was then caught by the Australian waters authorities. The boat was destroyed in the sea and the crewmen were brought to Darwin on board the HMAS Bathurst.

The Maritime Border Command (MBC) Inspector Ray Graham said the eight Indonesia fishermen were arrested with a sea snail allegedly netted from Australian waters.

Graham said the fishermen were charged with violation of the law on fishery management.

Ganef said the Indonesian Consulate in Darwin said the boat , the KM Koguno flying the Indonesian flag, was caught on charge of illegal fishing.

The eight crew members of the Indonesian fishing boat from Southeast Sulawesi are identified as Tami - the skipper (30), Suardin Mbala (36), La Mania (48), Yuyun (15), Ical (33), La Zaludi (32), Ayumin (43), Yadi (45).

ANTARA