A total of 17 illegal fishermen have been escorted out of Australian waters after two separate boats were caught off Western Australia.
The Australian Border Force said maritime officers yesterday intercepted a foreign boat after detecting suspicious activity near Cassini Island.
Seven men had been on board.
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Officers searched the boat and found 700kg of salt, a diesel-powered canoe and a variety of fishing and fishing-related equipment.
The equipment and catch were seized.
A business and community member then tipped off the Australian Border Force about possible illegal foreign fishing near Cobourg Peninsula yesterday.
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Officers found the vessel, with 1- men on board, near Port Essington.
An inspection found and confiscated 300kg of salt, four mobile phones used for and GPS positioning to tag areas of fishing and more fishing and fishing-related equipment.
The digital devices will be forensically examined to support future operations.
“Both foreign vessels were subsequently escorted north outside the Australian Economic Exclusion Zone,” the Australian Border Force said in a statement.
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