A large foreign fishing vessel with a crew of 28 has been intercepted and apprehended by the Australian Customs Vessel Holdfast Bay under the control of Border Protection Command inside the Australian Fishing Zone north east of Darwin.

The vessel and crew are being escorted to Darwin by HMAS Armidale and is the third Indonesian fishing vessel to be apprehended in the past week.

The apprehension of this latest vessel demonstrates the ongoing commitment of personnel involved in operations coordinated by Border Protection Command.

Under the control of Border Protection Command, officers from Customs, the Australian Defence Force, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service are continuing to work over the Christmas New Year holiday period to monitor and manage maritime threats to Australia.

HMAS Armidale took over responsibility for the vessel that was intercepted by Holdfast Bay on Sunday 28 December,approximately 60 nautical miles north of Cape Wessel and 380 nautical miles north east of Darwin.

Upon arrival in Darwin, the crew will be subject to further investigation by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority.

Early last week two other foreign fishing vessels were intercepted and apprehended by the Royal Australian Navy patrol boat HMAS Maryborough, approximately 180 nautical miles north west of Darwin.

Media inquiries:
Customs Media/BPC Media (02) 6275 6793 (24 hours).