The SMH seems to be missing a proof reader or two today.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/New-powers-to-stop-illegal-fishing/2007/06/12/1181414294619.html

Stronger measures to stop illegal fishing in Australian waters have been approved by parliament's lower house.

Parliamentary secretary for agriculture, fisheries and forestry Sussan Ley said the changes would deter foreigners from illegally fishing in the Australian Fishing Zone.

The legislation strengthens forfeiture provisions and powers of surveillance and gives fisheries, environment and law enforcement agencies greater powers to share information.

"These amendments will ensure Australia can continue to give strong messages to foreign fishers about the consequences of fishing illegally in our waters," Ms Ley said.

Ms Ley said the government had committed an unprecedented $800 million over the past three years to tackle illegal foreign fishing and the very serious threat it posed to fish stocks, biosecurity and national sovereignty.

As a result, sightings of illegal foreign fishing vessels off Australia's northern coastline in the first four months of this year were 90 per cent lower than in the same period last year, she said.

And in Australia's southern waters, the "results are even better," Ms Ley said, with no sightings of illegal Patagonian toothfish poachers for at least two years in the Heard and Macquarie Island Exclusive Economic Zones.

The government is also increasing regulation of fishing in the Torres Strait to ensure the key local industry remains sustainable, by allowing the Torres Strait Protected Zone Joint Authority to implement a quota system.

A licence for fish receivers, who will be required to report on the fish delivered to them, will be introduced.

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Global warming could kill off reef fish

http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking-news/global-warming-could-kill-off-reef-fish/2007/06/12/1181414289880.html

Any rise in sea temperatures due to global warming could decimate fish populations on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, researchers say.

"From our experiments, if the temperature was to rise even just a few degrees, it could have quite dramatic consequences on just how many of those eggs do survive.

"From my experience, at 31 degrees, 50 per cent of the eggs are already gone."

The outlook was even more grim if the predicted rise of at least one degree happened in the next 10 years, she said.

This was too short a timeframe for fish to evolve through natural selection to adapt to the higher water temperature, but the behaviour of their parents may have an influence in helping their offspring survive.

Their actions could range from giving birth in a different area with slightly cooler water or not breeding at all, she said.

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EU clamps down on excessive cod fishing

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/EU-clamps-down-on-excessive-cod-fishing/2007/06/12/1181414305363.html

European Union ministers agreed more controls to reduce cod fishing in the Baltic Sea to preserve stocks that are at risk of collapse after years of chronic overfishing, officials said.

Restrictions will be placed on the number of days in a month at sea that vessels may catch cod in western and eastern Baltic waters, and summer fishing bans will also apply - two months in the eastern Baltic, and one month in the western.

Scientists have long advised that eastern Baltic cod has been overfished to the point where it might vanish from the area, so they had recommended an outright fishing ban.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Navy-fired-at-illegal-fishing-vessel/2007/08/22/1187462321186.html

The Australian navy opened fire on an illegal fishing boat after it tried to ram a patrol boat and its crew threw machetes at sailors, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said.

Dr Nelson said the incident occurred in northern waters in the last month when the large, steel-hulled foreign fishing boat attempted to ram a patrolling naval vessel and refused to leave Australian waters.

"Missiles were thrown, including machetes, at Australian sailors and the chief of defence phoned me and asked me if they could undertake direct fire and I said `yes they most certainly can'," Dr Nelson told reporters.

Dr Nelson would not say what country the boat was from but said no-one was injured or taken into custody in the incident.

The West Australian newspaper reported the navy had fired a short burst from a mounted gun, hitting an Indonesian vessel during a pursuit about a month ago.

The vessel had escaped to international waters after the incident, in which the navy had employed tough new rules of engagement aimed at driving illegal fishermen and people smugglers out of Australian waters, the newspaper reported.

Dr Nelson said the boat had not been seen in Australian waters since.

"Those people who come to Australia who want to steal our fish and breach our exclusive economic zone need to know that we are not going to muck about," Dr Nelson said.

"The Australian Navy is very serious in protecting our borders."

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Does this mean the laws are working?

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Indon-fishermen-seeking-economic-asylum/2007/11/22/1195321906421.html

The 16 Indonesians rescued from their sinking boat in the Timor Sea are from three families seeking economic asylum, community leaders say.

They say the families are suffering from an ongoing crackdown - involving joint Australian-Indonesian patrols - on illegal fishing in Australia's northern waters.

A community leader said they felt insulted by the education programs "because they are calling us thieves," Sadli Ardania told ABC radio.

Under a 1974 memorandum of understanding between Indonesia and Australia, Indonesian subsistence fishermen are allowed to fish off Australia's northern islands and reefs within the exclusive economic zone, but not within territorial waters.

The fishermen must use traditional means only and are barred from using motor-powered vessels with modern navigation equipment and on-board refrigeration.

Taking of certain species is banned as is fishing in certain protected areas such as the Ashmore Reef nature reserve.

A massive increase in the number of Indonesian motorised fishing boats operating in the Australian EEZ prompted a crackdown with boats routinely confiscated and crews prosecuted.

Customs reported in October it appeared to be winning the battle with a 90 per cent reduction in incursions.

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Indon fishing boats seized off Australia

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Indon-fishing-boats-seized-off-Australia/2007/11/27/1196036875577.html

Five Indonesian fishing boats were seized and destroyed after they were caught fishing illegally in Australian waters at the weekend, authorities said.

The 53 fishermen from the five vessels were taken aboard the Australian Customs vessel Triton and transported to Darwin for processing, arriving early Monday morning.

Aboard the five vessels were an estimated 2,300 kilograms of Trepang, more commonly known as sea cucumber.

All five vessels were deemed unseaworthy or a quarantine risk, and were destroyed at sea, Border Protection Command said in a statement.

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Security agencies target fishing boats

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Security-agencies-target-fishing-boats/2007/11/27/1196036868741.html

Fishing boats are among more than two dozen commercial vessels boarded by federal and state authorities in a massive crime-fighting operation off the NSW north coast.

NSW police said three people so far have been arrested for firearm and drug offences, while numerous fishing breaches were detected in the crackdown carried out in waters between Ballina and Tweed Heads.

Operation Sirius began on Thursday and targeted illegal activities in the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone, up to 200 nautical miles (300km) out to sea, NSW Police Marine Area Command said in a statement.

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Customs nabs seven illegal fishing boats

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Customs-nabs-seven-illegal-fishing-boats/2007/11/28/1196036973663.html

Sixty-five Indonesian fishermen are on their way to Darwin after being caught fishing illegally in Australian waters, Australian Customs says.

The overnight capture of the 65 men and seven boats brings the tally of fishermen caught in the last four days to 118.