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| Down Under |
| INDONESIAN BOATS TRY TO RAM AUSTRALIAN NAVY VESSEL |
| 2004-11-16 |
| TWO Indonesian boats tried to ram a navy patrol vessel after being caught fishing illegally off the Northern Territory's coast, federal Fisheries Minister Ian Macdonald said today. The boats and the 19 crew aboard were today being towed to Gove, in north-east Arnhem Land, after being caught with almost 1000kg of fresh fish and dried shark fins, Senator Macdonald said. The fishermen had initially tried to flee after being detected off Cape Wessel about 8pm (CST) yesterday. When that failed, the crew aboard the wooden boats attempted to ram HMAS Gladstone, Senator Macdonald said. "It is a credit to the crew of the Gladstone, who were able to take control without any damage to the vessel or injury to the crew, and then make the arrest," he said in a statement. He said the fishing boats were equipped with GPS plotters and depth sounders. "These are not traditional village fishermen who are lost and far from home," Senator Macdonald said. "They know exactly where they are and the illegality of their actions." Officers from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority will begin their investigations when the boats dock in Gove. There have been 144 illegal fishing vessels caught in Australia's northern waters this year. |
| Posted by:God Save The World |