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SEVEN ice boats carrying 67 illegal fishermen and 4300kg of reef fish have been caught off the Territory coast.
The boats were rounded up by navy patrol boats and a Customs plane.
The navy was forced to run down five of the boats after they tried to flee.
Federal Fisheries Minister Senator Eric Abetz said Friday's capture of the boats is ``a major blow against the kingpins' financing illegal fishing'' in Australian waters.
Patrol boat HMAS Dubbo and Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment ship HMAS Success apprehended the boats, supported by a Customs Coastwatch surveillance flight.
HMAS Dubbo and Success are escorting the boats into Darwin Harbour and are expected to arrive tomorrow morning.
Federal Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said 214 illegal fishing boats had been caught in Australian waters so far this year.
"The capture shows the Australian Government and the Australian Defence Force will not muck about when securing Australia's sovereign waters and economic interests," Dr Nelson said.
The Australian Fisheries Management Authority will investigate the illegal boats once they reach Darwin tomorrow.
Meanwhile, an East Timorese fishing boat was also caught in Australian waters on Friday.
A large amount of shark and shark fin was found on board the boat, which was manned by 15 men all believed to be Thai nationals.
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