Twenty Indonesian men who were apprehended while fishing illegally in waters off Western Australia’s north have been sentenced in a Northern Territory court.
The ABC reported earlier this month that a traditional owner and tour operator had led Australian Border Force (ABF) officials to four foreign fishing vessels in the mangroves of Kuri Bay, about 220km north of Derby.
The ABF later confirmed three of the four boats had been destroyed at sea, with 20 of the 33 fishermen taken to the Australian mainland for prosecution.
A haul of 700kg of sea cucumber, 4kg of shark fin, 4kg of sea urchin and 2,450kg of salt was found on the boats.
The incident led to a national debate over Australian’s maritime policies, with the biosecurity threat highlighted by farmers.
Eleven Indonesian men faced Darwin Local Court on Thursday, with all pleading guilty to using a foreign boat to fish in territorial sea.
One fisher, believed to be a captain, was sentenced to one-month jail, which was suspended for two years.
A second man was fined $300, while the other nine were fined $150.
All 11 received recognisance orders, meaning a fine of $1,000 or $2,000 would apply if found guilty of similar offences in the next one to two years.
On Friday, the remaining nine Indonesian men also faced Darwin Local Court.
Two men were fined $4,150, another $300 and the remaining six all fined $150.
Recognisance orders were also placed against these nine men, with fines of up to $2,000 payable if the men reoffend in the next one to two years.
The ABF has been contacted for comment, specifically in relation to whether the men have since been deported to Indonesia.