Boat seizures ‘will hurt’ fishing syndicate

The federal Fisheries Minister believes seven foreign fishing trawlers apprehended in Australian waters on Friday were operating as part of a large illegal fishing syndicate.

The Indonesian flagged ice boats were escorted to Darwin today, with 67 crew on board and more than four tonnes of reef fish. Senator Eric Abetz says he has received information that the boats were purchased by organised crime groups and staffed by Indonesian villagers.