An influx in foreign fishing vessels on Torres Strait waters has left locals concerned for their safety and the delicate ecosystem. Photo: Supplied.
Torres Strait residents have been left with no real answers after a surge in illegal fishing activity on local waters over the past month.
In January alone, at least nine foreign fishing vessels were spotted on Torres Strait waters. While some were intercepted, questions remain on what is being done to proactively protect the region’s residents and environment.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) directed ABFC Storm Bay and a helicopter into waters off Roko Island on 14 January after receiving community reports of a vessel allegedly fishing illegally.
Officers seized fishing equipment and 200 kilograms of salt, used to preserve catch. But witnesses claim the response took more than six hours and the crew was simply sent on its way.
Crew members had already allegedly disembarked onto Roko Island and returned to their boat before ABF intercepted them.
“They [ABF] got them [the boat and its crew] to follow them out and around an island. We believe they gave them fuel and sent them on their way, so there’s nothing really being done,” Cape York Camping Punsand Bay’s Kahlia Colquhoun said.
“We watched the people in the boat throw stuff overboard before Border Force boarded them.
“As we’ve been talking to people, more have been sharing their stories. Apparently they were spotted around Christmas time. Potentially they’ve been in our waters for over a month.”
Ms Colquhoun said she had witnessed foreign crew embark onto the mainland as well.
“They were spotted in the mangroves on some islands and on Mabuiag Island. So they’ve touched Australian soil,” she said.
“We watched them come into the mainland. But we didn’t know if they were armed, so we got back into the vehicle.
“It’s really scary; I cannot fathom why nothing has happened.”
Ten days later, ABF intercepted four foreign vessels and their crews allegedly fishing illegally in Torres Strait waters.
The Indonesian boats were intercepted on 24 January near Turnagain Island, where officers seized 38 shark fins and fishing equipment.
Two vessels and their crews were escorted out of Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone, while authorities seized the remaining two vessels to be destroyed.
But a video posted on social media the same day by a local resident flying from Mabuiag Island to Boigu Island showed eight vessels.
An ABF spokesperson said it was committed to targeting illegal foreign fishing in Australian waters, but did not provide details of proactive action.
“Australia implements a multi-faceted response to illegal foreign fishing. This includes enforcement actions at sea, targeted operations, and coordinated patrols with Indonesia,” the spokesperson said.
“To ensure operational effectiveness, the ABF will not comment on the specific number or specific location of assets deployed, other than to say there are significant resources deployed along and off the Australian coast to respond to threats identified through our intelligence and surveillance capabilities.”
Member for Leichhardt Matt Smith said while he was aware of the issues on the Torres Strait border, he could not comment on solutions while “operations are ongoing”.
“I’m keenly aware of the incursion issues in the Torres Strait, and in fact took Assistant Minister Julian Hill for an inspection of the Thursday Island ABF base in September 2025.
“Assistant Minister Hill and myself met with the ABF and listened first-hand to the locals and border force staff directly impacted on the front line.
“I’m always keen to advocate for the region and raise awareness of the issues that arise in the Torres Strait, regularly speaking passionately about them in Parliament House.”
Three of the Indonesian fishing vessels intercepted by Australian Border Force on 24 January. Photo: Australian Border Force.
