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New fisheries vessel for West Coast

23 December 2008

Fisheries enforcement capabilities have received a further boost with the arrival of a new $200,000 fisheries patrol vessel at Ceduna on the far west coast.

The purpose-built, seven metre twin-hulled sailfish catamaran, FPV Bluefin, was handed over to local Fisheries Officers at Ceduna this week.

Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Minister, Rory McEwen says the new vessel is fitted with state-of-the-art electronics for navigation, plotting and radar.

"FPV Bluefin will provide an on-water-presence capable of taking up to four officers out to 30 nautical miles offshore," Mr McEwen says.

"It provides a formidable compliance tool and is a valuable addition to the PIRSA Fisheries fleet.

"FPV Bluefin will be used to check on compliance by commercial and recreational fishers and to investigate any suspected breaches of fisheries legislation.

"FPV Bluefin can also work with the state's large off-shore fisheries patrol vessel, Southern Ranger, during deeper off shore operations.

"The new vessel will be used by four Fisheries Officers based at Ceduna and Streaky Bay covering an area from Streaky Bay through to the WA border," Mr McEwen says.

The arrival of FPV Bluefin follows the recent delivery of an identical vessel, FPV Cygnet, to Fisheries Officers on Kangaroo Island.