Coalition Commits to Combating Illegal Foreign Fishing

April 7, 2025 TruthUSA

The Coalition has vowed to review the fishing regulator and related task forces to ensure they have the capability to crack down on illegal fishing activities.

If successful in the May federal election, the Coalition plans to tighten controls on illegal foreign fishing to protect the local industry, given the rise in such activities off Australia’s coast in recent years.

In its election agenda supporting Australian fisheries, the Coalition criticized the Labor government for allegedly allowing illegal fishing to thrive under its supervision.

“These fishing operations often lead to illegally harvested fish being sold in Australian markets without any economic benefit to the communities that rely on the fishing industry,” the plan stated.

It also mentioned that if elected, a Coalition government led by Peter Dutton would reassess Operation Lunar and related surveillance and enforcement tasks against illegal foreign fishing in the Northern Territory, as well as biosecurity activities conducted by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) and Australian Border Force.

This review is aimed at ensuring these agencies are equipped to crack down on illegal fishing within Australian waters.

“We will take legal action against illegal fishermen onshore when necessary,” the plan specified.

A recent government outlook report projected that Australian fisheries and aquaculture production would hit approximately $3.56 billion (US$2.14 billion) in the 2023-24 financial year, with an estimated average value of $3.48 billion from 2024-25 to 2028-29.

Notable Increase in Illegal Fishing

As per AFMA’s 2024 annual report, 237 foreign vessels were identified fishing illegally in the 2023-24 financial year, up from 125 the year before.

Although this figure was lower than the previous record of nearly 350 vessels in 2021-22, it still far exceeded the 10-year average of 20 vessels reported in 2022-23.

The report highlighted a concentration of illegal fishing in Australia’s northern waters, particularly in the Kimberley Marine Park.

“Many factors behind the surge in illegal foreign fishing are outside the control of AFMA,” the report stated.

“Illegal fishing by foreign vessels, mainly from Indonesia and Papua New Guinea in the Torres Strait, remains a significant concern for AFMA, posing a threat to fisheries and the marine environment.”

In late March, AFMA reported that 11 Indonesian nationals confessed to illegal fishing in Australia’s waters in two separate incidents.

Authorities seized a total of 1.3 tonnes of sea cucumber, a valuable seafood fetching high prices in certain markets.

The individuals were apprehended and taken to Darwin for further investigation while their vessels were destroyed according to Australian regulations.

Labor’s Initiatives

While Labor has not made new commitments in this area, it has taken several steps to combat illegal fishing prior to the election.

The recent 2025 federal budget allocated $1.7 million to AFMA to help address the increasing threat of illegal fishing in Australia’s northern waters.

In January 2025, the Labor government launched Operation Lunar task force and provided an additional helicopter to Border Force to enhance protection of Australia’s fisheries in the Northern Territory.

Prior to that, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek announced the expansion of the Heard and McDonald Islands Marine Park by 310,000 square kilometers in October 2024, quadrupling the marine reserve’s size.

According to the government, this expansion will contribute to Australia’s marine conservation efforts and the fight against illegal fishing.

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