TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Eight Indonesian fishermen were arrested by Australian authorities on the waters of Timor. These fishermen were taken into custody in Darwin.
Inspector Ray Graham from the Australian Maritime Border Command (MBC) suspected that the Indonesian fishermen were illegally fishing for sea slugs on Australian waters.
An MBC reconnaissance aircraft saw the Indonesian fishermen near Browse Island, around 280 miles off Broome, West Australia on Friday, April 28.
The fishermen were arrested on the waters of Timor while their fishing boat was demolished on the sea by Australian authorities. Meanwhile, the Indonesian fishermen were taken to Darwin onboard the HMAS Bathurst vessel.
The Indonesian fishermen will be investigated by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) for allegedly violating Australia’s regulation on fishery management.
“Protecting the biodiversity in Australian waters is the main priority of the maritime border command,” says Inspector Ray Graham.
“The arrest of fishing for sea slugs is the first time happened in the last decade,” says AFMA Operations General Manager Peter Venslovas.
The Indonesian fishermen group is currently arrested at the immigration office while waiting for the finalization of the legal matters. “They will be transferred from Australia after everything is done,” Peter said.
ANTARA
