Armed Southern Ocean patrol trials launched from Hobart - Tuesday 29 June 2004
Joint media release - Senator Chris Ellison, Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Ian Macdonald, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, Dr Sharman Stone MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the EnvironmentArmed patrols to boost protection of Australia’s Southern Ocean waters will start next month with “shake-down” sea trials departing from Hobart.
The Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, Senator Ian Macdonald, and the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Chris Ellison, made the announcement today while inspecting the polar ship Aurora Australis in Hobart.
The Aurora Australis is being used for sea trials on a temporary basis.
A tender process to lease a suitable vessel dedicated to an ongoing, full-time surveillance and enforcement patrol program – primarily in the Southern Ocean – is well underway, with the new vessel to be operational and ready for deployment before the end of the year.
There will be a seamless transition between the Aurora Australis and the new vessel, which will undertake patrols from a variety of locations dependent on operational considerations. When not undertaking specific taskings in the Southern Ocean, this vessel will be available for other border protection duties.
The Aurora Australis and its permanent successor will be the first Customs and Fisheries Patrol vessels to be fitted with twin deck-mounted .50 calibre machine guns and will also carry an armed Customs boarding party to protect Australia’s interests in the Southern Ocean and deter those wishing to plunder fish stocks.
Funding for the vessel’s armament, the provision of an armed Customs boarding party, Australian Fisheries officers and a civilian steaming party was announced by the Prime Minister in December 2003 and included in the 2004-05 Budget.
Senator Macdonald warned illegal operators that Customs and Fisheries officers now had an enhanced capability to patrol and protect the remote and ecologically sensitive Southern Oceans area.
“We are ready and determined to protect our sovereign interests in the waters surrounding Heard Island and McDonald Islands and halt illegal fishing of the Patagonian Toothfish,” he said.
Senator Ellison said Hobart would be used as the base for the “shake-down” sea trials to bed down and test both the capabilities of the new weapons system and the armed Customs boarding party.
“This shows that we are now patrol-ready from 1 July to take the fight up to those wanting to plunder fish stocks in the Southern Ocean, however the shake-down trials give officers the opportunity to test their boarding and interception skills at sea during the final phase of their training,” he said.
“I would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Australian Defence Force in providing training and help with weapons system acquisition.”
Dr Sharman Stone, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment with responsibility for Antarctica, said the patrols were another example of how the Government is providing practical protection for precious resources - in this instance, the valuable Patagonian toothfish.
“The Howard Government is strongly focused on getting the job done, in this case by funding a significant armed presence to deter and detect any attempts to plunder the Southern Ocean,” Dr Stone said.
The armed patrols send a strong message that Australia will not tolerate any breaches of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), wherever they may occur.
It should now be clear to poachers that Australia has the will and the capability to lead the fight to stop illegal fishing in sub-Antarctic waters.
When combined with the existing Customs National Marine Unit fleet of eight purpose-built patrol vessels operating around the Australian coastline, the new vessel will also provide a significant boost to Australia’s overall maritime border protection.
Australia will continue to work closely with other nations who are committed to protecting Southern Ocean fisheries, including South Africa, France, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
29 June 2004
Further information:
Simon Troeth (Sen. Ellison) (02) 6277 7260/(0439) 300 335
David Crisafulli (Sen. Macdonald) (07) 4771 3066/(0400) 144 483
Fiona Murphy (Dr Stone) (02) 6277 2016/(0423) 577 045
