Fish wars: new treaty between Australia and France to patrol maritime areas in French Southern and Antarctic

First 8 of 8 paragraphs shown The Australian Fisheries Management Authority, AFMA was to evolve into a new marine spookforce if a new Federal bill is passed. It had also done a deal with the French.
Fighting fish wars: The new fish warriors under the banner of AFMA had charged of investigation and detection of illegal activities by both domestic and foreign fishers in the Australian fishing zone and the Commonwealth managed fisheries.
The new deal: Under revised arrangements with the states which came into force on 1 July 2009, AFMA officers are undertaking front-line fishery inspections and patrol activities previously undertaken by state and territory officers
Spy-eyes for all agencies: Parliament was told “those in the fishing industry are also the eyes and the ears of other maritime activities and are often well-placed to pass on information not only related to their industry, so there is a need to ensure the safety of these officers undertaking this type of work.
Treaty with the French: The bill will implement a treaty between the government of Australia and the government of the French Republic to cooperate in the maritime areas adjacent to the French Southern and Antarctic Territories, the TAAF, Heard Island and McDonald Islands which entered into force on 1 February 2005 as a cooperative treaty.
Joint immunity: The bill will grant French officers immunity from Australias civil and criminal administrative jurisdiction as provided for under the enforcement agreement.
Australian fish police to work for the French: The bill will give Australian officers statutory authority to assist French officers to undertake cooperative enforcement activities and will grant French officers immunity from Australias civil and criminal jurisdiction when they are undertaking cooperative enforcement activities pursuant to the enforcement agreement. France has implemented the enforcement agreement into French law to the effect that Australian officers and vessels acting consistently with the enforcement agreement can assist French controllers in enforcing French fisheries law. Similarly, Australian officers acting consistently with the enforcement agreement are indemnified under French law.
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