Australia fires warning shots at Indonesian fishing boats

Australia fires warning shots at Indonesian fishing boats

Agence France-Presse, Sydney, Australia

An Australian patrol boat fired warning shots while arresting four Indonesian fishing boats on the high seas, the government said on Wednesday.

The boats, carrying 15 tonnes of fresh fish, were intercepted off Australia's northern coast on Sunday and shots were fired when one refused orders to stop.

Fisheries and Conservation Minister Ian Macdonald said Australia would use all means available to protect its fisheries resources.

"Together with our constant navy, customs and coastwatch presence, this operation proves how seriously the Australian government views anyone illegally entering our waters," Macdonald said in a statement.

The weekend operation followed the arrest of a flag-of- convenience boat allegedly illegally fishing in Australia's southern waters for the prized Patagonian toothfish.

Two crew from the Cambodian-flagged Taruman, a vessel found in the Southern Ocean earlier this month, have been charged with illegally fishing for the protected species, Macdonald said.

"Investigations revealed the vessel was carrying 143 tonnes of Patagonian toothfish," he said.

The pair face a maximum penalty of 825,000 dollars (US$634,600) as well as the forfeit of the vessel, gear and catch. The remainder of the crew will be deported.

The Patagonian toothfish, which inhabits deep sub-Antarctic waters, is prized in North America and Japan for its thick, white, boneless flesh.