SYDNEY—Illegal Indonesian fishing raises the risk of diseases such as bird flu and rabies being brought into Australia, the government has warned after a skirmish between a warship and a poacher.
Just weeks after a suspected Indonesian fishing vessel was fired on by an Australian patrol boat in northern waters, Fisheries Minister Eric Abetz said today new laws were enabling the government to take tough action against poachers.
"Not only are they stealing our fish, they're also threatening our biosecurity," Senator Abetz said.
"On these vessels they often have live chickens and dogs. Now we know they have avian flu in Indonesia, we know they have rabies in Indonesia."
The federal government has ramped up anti-poaching operations, with significant success in the last three years since dozens of foreign fishing boats were found to have landed on Australian soil.
"In our last calendar year we in fact apprehended 365 Indonesian fishing vessels and destroyed 365 vessels," Senator Abetz said.
"This year we have only apprehended about 40 but the reason for that is there's been about a 90 per cent reduction in incursions into our waters.
"Our tough stance has worked, and the skirmishes are clearly sending a loud message to the Indonesians: in particular that if you steal our fish we won't sit idly by, we will take action to stop you.
"It is refreshing to hear the Indonesian ambassador say that Indonesia supports us taking a tough action against illegal fishing, as they do in their waters."
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson revealed yesterday that a patrol boat opened fire on an illegal fishing vessel, holing it above the waterline, during a dramatic ocean confrontation last month.
No-one was injured in the clash during which the fishing vessel tried to ram the navy vessel.
Machetes and other missiles were thrown at the Royal Australian Navy crew from the steel-hulled fishing boat, which escaped after the clash.
Senator Abetz said today the incident showed Australia was determined to use the strengthened rules of engagement under the new laws.
"The interesting thing is that the boat has not been back," he said.
"We doubt that it will come back, we will be tough with the bigger boats, if they do try to evade us we will shoot on them."
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