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Output 3 - Civil maritime surveillance and response

Maritime response

People smuggling

There were no arrivals of suspect illegal entry vessels during 2004–05, compared to three arrivals involving 82 suspect unlawful non-citizens in 2003–04 (see figure 24).

Figure 24: Summary of suspect illegal entry vessels (SIEVs) and suspect unlawful non-citizens (SUNCs)

		2002–03	2003–04	2004–05
SIEV summary^
	Undetected
	onshore unauthorised boat arrival	0	1	0
	offshore unauthorised boat arrival	0	2	0
	Detected	0	0	0
Total		0	3	0
SUNC summary^
	Undetected
	onshore unauthorised boat arrival	0	53*	0
	offshore unauthorised boat arrival	0	29	0
	Detected	0	0	0
Total		0	82	0
	Crew	0	4	0

^ Figures sourced from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Afffairs.

* Three of these SUNCs were charged with people smuggling offences under the Migration Act 1958.

Whole-of-government approach

Each Coastwatch flight is multi-tasked to provide surveillance services on behalf of other agencies. For example:

• people smuggling and prohibited imports smuggling
• illegal fishing interception
• support of search and rescue operations
• reports related to the protection of the maritime environment and marine resources.

Coastwatch’s role in protecting the integrity of Australia’s maritime environment includes:

• identifying and responding to illegal fishing in Australian waters
• detecting and reporting environmental incidents such as marine pollution and coastal degradation
• detecting introduced marine pests, and human incursions on coral reefs and other protected marine parks and the potential quarantine, health and marine habitat threats
• reporting sightings of whales, turtles, dolphins and dugongs to protect marine species
• gathering evidence for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to support charges for vessels operating illegally in protected areas of the Park.

Activities in 2004–05 are detailed in figure 25.

Figure 25: Selected Coastwatch activities on behalf of other agencies

	2003–04	2004–05
Surveillance reports—yachts	455	560
Sightings reports—environment	79	129
Sightings reports—animals in protected areas	243 sightings of 2 286 animals	311 sightings of 3 615 animals
Sightings reports—marine species	1 318 sightings of 18 715 animals	1 361 sightings of 15 032 marine animals
Search and rescue (SAR)SAR operations involving Coastwatch aircraft	41	53

Foreign fishing in Australia’s maritime zones

The increasing presence of foreign fishing vessels (FFVs) in Australian waters poses a multi-dimensional threat. As well as depleting fish stocks and creating significant environmental hazards, foreign vessels sometimes make landings, potentially conveying exotic pests and diseases to Australia’s shores.

The number of actions taken by Customs and Navy vessels against FFVs increased by 67 per cent compared to the previous year:

• 203 FFVs were apprehended (134 in 2003–04)
• 178 were subject to legislative forfeiture of catch and equipment (83 in 2003–04)
• 50 were cautioned (42 in 2003–04).

Figure 26: Foreign fishing vessel action 2000-01 to 2004–05

Operation Clearwater

Operation Clearwater, a concentrated operation aimed at detecting and deterring foreign fishing vessels in the Gulf of Carpentaria and in the waters to the north of Arnhem Land, was conducted during the period 11–21 April 2005.

It involved the combined resources of Customs, the Australian Defence Force, Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, and the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs with support from the Northern Territory Health Department and the Northern Territory Police. 

Two Indonesian officials from the Indonesian Directorate General of Customs and the Directorate of Fish Resources Surveillance also participated.

During the operation, Customs vessels and Royal Australian Navy patrol boats apprehended 29 illegal fishing boats and 258 crew. Fifteen boats were large vessels known as iceboats with a capacity to store fresh fish.

AFMA identified 65 crew who were charged with offences under the Fisheries Management Act 1991 and/or the Criminal Code. Penalties imposed on 35 crew members who were dealt with by the courts in 2004–05 ranged from an aggregate fine of $90 000 handed to the master of a large iceboat, to a two year $200 good behaviour bond.

Of the 29 vessels apprehended during the operation, two were destroyed by fire while at sea, one due to its unseaworthy condition and the other due to quarantine concerns.

At 30 June 2005, 19 of the remaining 27 vessels had been destroyed and eight were detained in port awaiting a decision.

During this operation officers seized approximately:

• 12 927kg fish products
• 2000kg bait
• 13 910 hooks
• 87 584 metres of long line
• 295kg of shark fin
• 152 additional shark pieces.

Operation Clearwater is an example of the benefits of a whole-of-government approach to a major threat to the nation’s natural resources and is further evidence that Australia’s border protection arrangements are working well.

Figure 27: Location of Operation Clearwater

Support to the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Services (AQIS)

The objective of quarantine controls in maritime areas is to prevent the introduction of exotic diseases or pests to Australia. Of particular relevance to the civil surveillance program is the need for early detection and identification of potential or actual landings by overseas vessels at remote places.

Coastwatch provides AQIS with information obtained during surveillance flights ranging from international vessels travelling close to the coastline, to vessels discharging ballast and waste at sea where that waste could drift to shore. AQIS is advised of all interceptions of overseas vessels such as FFV’s and SIEVs.

The Customs office on Thursday Island works particularly closely with AQIS to achieve the objectives of the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy in the Torres Strait and Cape York area. The quarantine related activities undertaken in this region range from:

• targeted surveillance for early warning to AQIS of potential quarantine threats
• transporting AQIS officers by Coastwatch helicopter to monitor fruit fly and screw worm, and
• conducting plant and animal surveys.

National Marine Unit

Customs National Marine Unit provides maritime response to known and/or suspected breaches of the Australian border.

The National Marine Unit is committed to provide about 2400 vessel sea days a year to the National Civil Maritime Surveillance and Response Program. This target is achieved by each of the eight Australian Customs Bay Class vessels completing around 300 vessel sea days a year.

Australian Customs vessels (ACVs) conduct patrols around the entire Australian coastline and out to the 200 nautical mile limit of the AEEZ. In response to concentrated activity levels in Northern Australia, a number of vessels continually patrol coastal and offshore areas between the Kimberley Coast and Torres Strait.

Key achievements in the National Marine Unit

ACVs achieved 2372 vessel sea days:

• 60 per cent was achieved in Northern Australia
• 30 per cent was achieved on patrols of the East Coast
• nine per cent on the West Coast
• one per cent was achieved on patrols of the Southern Coastline.

The Bay Class fleet completed 746 strategic taskings and 91 tactical taskings on behalf of eight Federal and nine State client agencies. This reflected an overall completion rate of 78 per cent. The National Marine Unit did not complete 100 per cent of vessel sea days/tasks due to either tactical tasks taking precedence over strategic tasks or National Marine Unit not being in a position to accept some strategic tasks because of their incompatibility with other concurrent high priority taskings.

Figure 28: Australian Customs Vessel response activity

	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05
Boardings
FFV^	388	377	358
SIEV~	0	2	0
Other#	385	457	105
Apprehensions*	61	65	80
Legislative forfeitures>	4	40	118

* Apprehensions by Customs Marine Vessels are a subset of the total number of apprehensions shown in Figure 22.

# Includes merchant vessels, Australian fishing vessels, other small craft.

~ Suspect illegal entry vessel

^ Foreign fishing vessel

> Legislative forfeiture (catch and equipment seized) conducted under Fisheries legislation. Legislative forfeitures shown here were initiated by Customs Marine Vessels and are a subset of the total legislative forfeitures shown in Figure 22.

Secure communication

A secure communications facility was developed using Transmission Control Internet Protocol for voice, video and data transmissions over satellite. Secure communications will be fitted into all Customs vessels during 2005–06.

Replacement program for the Bay Class fleet

Originally introduced into service with a useful life to Customs of ten years, much of the Customs vessel fleet has reached ‘half-life’ of five years. Customs is planning for a replacement to the Bay Class fleet that will be capable of continuing to counter existing, as well as emergent, threats to Australia’s borders and sovereignty.

Bay Class maintenance services contract

On 15 April 2005, the Bay Class maintenance service contract was approved. The new maintenance contract tender sought to engage the market place with a contract that was more suitable for the operations of Customs and one that provided maintenance coverage to the projected end of life in Customs of the Bay Class ACVs. The transition to the new contractor is complete.

Deck mounted weapons on all Bay Class vessels

In the 2005–06 Budget, the Government approved funding of $25.2m over four years to enable Customs to:

• arm all Bay Class patrol boats with deck-mounted 7.62mm FN Herstal MAG 58 general support machine guns
• recruit additional crew to operate the weapons
• provide training for the additional crew.

The increased armament is intended to convince suspect vessels to comply with directions and will contribute to the safety of Customs officers.

The arming of the vessels is also essential to provide a full response capability by Customs when patrolling offshore oil and gas rigs.

Southern Ocean Maritime Patrol and Response

The 2004–05 Budget included $89.2m over two years to enable Customs to set up a program of regular armed patrols to protect Australia’s sovereign interests and valuable fish resources in the Southern Ocean. This funding included $5m to the Australian Fisheries Management Authority to cover post-apprehension costs for any investigations and prosecutions of suspected breaches of fisheries laws.

Achievements

Five armed Customs/Fisheries patrols were conducted in the Australian Fishing Zone surrounding the remote Heard Island and McDonald Islands. The aim is to apprehend any illegal fishing vessel trying to catch the increasingly scarce Patagonian toothfish or committing other offences against Australian law.

No vessels were intercepted fishing illegally inside the AEEZ in 2004–05. Evidence was gathered on behalf of Australian Fisheries authorities on several vessels that were fishing in Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources managed areas, when not licensed to do so.

On 17 November 2004, following a competitive tender process, a long-term contract for a Norwegian vessel, Oceanic Viking, was finalised between Customs and P&O Maritime Services Pty Ltd. This provided the Southern Ocean Maritime Patrol and Response program with dedicated capability utilising:

• a 105 metre vessel with a full complement of civilian crew and ‘Steaming party’ (additional sailors capable of crewing an apprehended vessel)
• a fully equipped medical facility
• deck-mounted 0.50 calibre machine guns
• a team of specialist trained and armed Customs boarding party officers able to conduct year-round patrols in virtually any weather conditions.

When not undertaking specific patrols in the Southern Ocean, the Oceanic Viking is available for other taskings.

Australia is strengthening its level of cooperation with France as the economic zone around the French territory of Kerguelen Island adjoins the Heard and McDonald Island Exclusive Economic Zone.

Since the Maritime Cooperation Treaty on Surveillance in the Southern Ocean entered into force on 1 February 2005, Customs and Fisheries officials from the two countries have been negotiating operational-level arrangements. Joint operations in the Southern Ocean, exchanging officers on patrols and coordinating sailing plans will maximise coverage for both France and Australia.

They will also support international initiatives to combat illegal fishing in this ecologically sensitive environment. Other nations who are committed to protecting Southern Ocean fisheries include South Africa, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Future Southern Ocean patrols

The 2005–06 Budget provided funding to extend surveillance and the armed patrol program in the Southern Ocean against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing until at least June 2010. In total, the Government will provide total funding of $201.4m for this program for the years 2005–06 to 2009–10. Negotiations are under way to extend the contract for the supply of the Oceanic Viking. Modifications to the vessel are also planned to improve safety and operational efficiency.

 

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