Illegal fishing in TSI threatens sea cucumbers: Burke

Tag : Species of a Sea Cucumber

CANBERRA, May 3, 2008: Illegal fishing in the Torres Strait is onthe rise, threatening the recovery of vulnerable sea cucumberpopulations.

The number of Papua New Guinean boats apprehended in the TorresStrait Protected Zone has soared from three in 2007 to 15 alreadythis year, the Australian government says.

Fisheries Minister Tony Burke said 10 of the boats caught this yearwere hunting for sea cucumbers, a slug-like animal which is arelative of the sea urchin and is highly prized in Asian cooking.

Mr Burke said the sea cucumber was overfished in Australian waters,and further intensive fishing could harm the species' recovery.

Five of the apprehended boats were cray fishing.

Mr Burke said he discussed the problem with the PNG government thisweek while on a two-day visit to Thursday Island in the TorresStrait.

"I raised this matter with Papua New Guinean Minister for FisheriesBen Semri and we had a positive discussion," Mr Burke said on hisreturn to Australia.

"We agreed that the governments of Australia and Papua New Guineashould continue to work together to fight illegal fishing."