WA: Shots fired at illegal fishing boats

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2006
WA: Shots fired at illegal fishing boats

By Jo Prichard

PERTH, April 5 AAP - Warning shots were fired at suspected illegal fishing vessels
off northern Australia, the federal government said today.

Justice and Customs Minister Chris Ellison said Operation Breakwater, a two-week exercise
which began off the coast of Arnhem Land last month, showed fishermen were becoming more
aggressive in their tactics.

But Senator Ellison would not reveal details of specific incidents.

"We've seen an increase in more aggressive behaviour and that's something which is
a concern to us and indeed on more than one occasion we've had to fire shots," he said.

"They were warning shots and they were not fired directly at the crew involved.

"As to the particular circumstance of that detail (it) is an operational one and and
I don't necessarily want to discuss that at this stage."

The operation involved the Royal Australian Air Force and quarantine, federal fisheries
and immigration officers.

One hundred and ninety-seven fishermen, including eight juveniles, on 23 boats were arrested.

Senator Ellison said there did not seem to be any direct link between the fishermen
caught during Operation Breakwater and recent attempts by people from Papua to enter Australia.

It has been reported that six or seven Papuans have illegally entered Australia via
Bamboo Island but the government could not confirm the location.

"We don't have that on our charts and we're ascertaining if perhaps another name is
being used in relation to that," Senator Ellison said.

"We've not seen any link between illegal fishing and any attempts to enter Australia
illegally by West Papuans."

In January, 42 of 43 Papuans who landed at Cape York were granted temporary protection
visas by the federal government and the issue had strained relations with Indonesia.

"In relation to (this) most recent development, customs coastwatch is still investigating
the matter," Senator Ellison said.

Senator Ellison said 125 of the suspected illegal fishermen arrested during Operation
Breakwater were being detained at Baxter detention centre and the rest were in Darwin.

AAP jp/jnb/br

KEYWORD: FISHING ELLISON

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