Maritime authorities confirm no search operations are under way for missing Indonesian fishing vessels

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority says it is not currently aware of any other Indonesian fishing vessels which may have been stranded in Cyclone Ilsa, despite families in Indonesia saying a third and fourth boat had not returned.

Speaking to the ABC, villages from Rote Island in Indonesia claimed the Cahaya Alor and Tuan Muda had left the village at the same time as the two boats involved in recent rescues, and had not returned.

But in a statement to the Broome Advertiser, AMSA said it was not involved in any further search and rescue operations in the region.

“At this stage, Indonesian authorities have not alerted AMSA to any missing fishing boats that may be in Australian waters,” the statement said.

“Whenever AMSA is alerted to a missing vessel or a vessel in distress, we take immediate action.”

It comes after 11 fishermen were rescued from Bedwell Island on April 18, about 300km off the Broome coast, after six days with no food or water when their boats were caught in category five tropical cyclone Ilsa.

Australian Border Patrol alerted the Australian Maritime Safety Authority of a group in distress, who tasked the Broome-based PHI international rescue helicopter to winch the men to safety in a four-hour operation.

A similar incident occurred last year when two survivors were rescued but nine died after their fishing boat capsized off the coast of WA during Cyclone Charlotte.

In a statement on the ABP website, Australian Fisheries Management Authority executive officer Wez Norris said AMFA, as the lead agency, was working closely with the ABF through Maritime Border Command to protect the integrity of Australia’s maritime domain from illegal unregulated and unreported fishing.

“Australia and Indonesia have a long history of positive cooperation on fisheries management and both share the same concerns about foreign vessels operating illegally in our respective waters,” he said.

“While strong enforcement is essential to deterring future incursions into Australia’s Fisheries Zone, we also work collaboratively through joint patrols, capacity building and public information campaigns.”